EP2521689A1 - Method and device for processing containers - Google Patents

Method and device for processing containers

Info

Publication number
EP2521689A1
EP2521689A1 EP11700006A EP11700006A EP2521689A1 EP 2521689 A1 EP2521689 A1 EP 2521689A1 EP 11700006 A EP11700006 A EP 11700006A EP 11700006 A EP11700006 A EP 11700006A EP 2521689 A1 EP2521689 A1 EP 2521689A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
lid
filling
cover
cap
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP11700006A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2521689B1 (en
Inventor
Philippe Macquet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hema SAS
Original Assignee
Hema SAS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hema SAS filed Critical Hema SAS
Publication of EP2521689A1 publication Critical patent/EP2521689A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2521689B1 publication Critical patent/EP2521689B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
    • B67C7/0073—Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/08—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by irradiation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
    • B65B7/2835—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers applying and rotating preformed threaded caps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
    • B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
    • B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
    • B65D47/0833—Hinges without elastic bias
    • B65D47/0838—Hinges without elastic bias located at an edge of the base element

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of treating containers comprising sterilizing, filling and capping containers, to obtain sterilized containers, filled with a sterile filler and closed with a stopper.
  • the present invention also relates to a treatment device and a particular stopper for implementing the method according to the invention.
  • the conventional filling method for filling a container comprising in particular an upper opening, and in particular a neck, comprises first of all the sterilization of the container, its filling with a sterile filling product, and then its capping by the setting in place of a sterilized stopper. Sterilization, filling and capping are performed on three different treatment stations, for example on the stations of three different carousels.
  • processing devices comprising a rotary carousel comprising a rotating support plate carrying a plurality of treatment stations arranged at regular angular space, each treatment station comprising means sterilization apparatus which comprises an electron beam emitter, and support means for supporting a container under said emitter, said emitter being adapted to emit an electron beam passing through the upper opening of a container carried by said emitter in order to sterilize the container, in particular the inner wall of said container.
  • sterilization apparatus which comprises an electron beam emitter, and support means for supporting a container under said emitter, said emitter being adapted to emit an electron beam passing through the upper opening of a container carried by said emitter in order to sterilize the container, in particular the inner wall of said container.
  • the filling can be carried out by means of a carousel of the same type as for the sterilization, each treatment station comprising filling means, such as a filling spout or one or more filling cannulas, and support means for support a container under said filling spout. Clogging may include screwing a plug on the neck of the containers.
  • the stopper is preferably pre-sterilized with a particular system.
  • the object of the invention is to propose a new process which makes it possible to obtain a sterile filling of containers with a high level of sterility, which is greater than that obtained by a conventional filling method.
  • the present invention proposes a process for treating containers to obtain containers filled with a filling product and closed with a stopper characterized in that it comprises, for each container to be treated,
  • a) an assembly step for assembling a lid cap on a container said cap comprising a tubular base and a hinged lid on said base, by means of a hinge, between an open position and a closed position said plug being assembled by its base on said container at an opening of said container, preferably at an upper opening thereof, for example at the neck of a container
  • a sterilization step of container equipped with its lid cap in particular of the inner wall of the container
  • a step of filling the container comprising filling the container filling product, by opening, with the lid of its plug in the open position, and the operation of the lid to its closed position.
  • a lid cap also called a flapper cap
  • the lid is placed on each container before sterilization, the lid being operated in the open position for filling the container, which ensures the container filled and closed a high level of sterility.
  • the lid can also be placed in the closed position, between the plug assembly step and the sterilization step, after the filling step, and possibly between the sterilization step and the filling step. .
  • the use of the lid cap makes it possible to have a sealed container during the transfer steps between different treatment stations.
  • the sterilization step simultaneously sterilizes the interior of the container as well as the surfaces of the plug which will be in contact with the filling product.
  • the method according to the invention is efficient in terms of sterility level, while remaining simple design and implementation.
  • the filling step c) is followed by a step d) of fixing, in a sealed manner, the lid in its closed position on the base.
  • This fixing step guarantees a perfect seal and thus a good level of sterility after filling.
  • the lid is brought to the closed position, which guarantees a good sterility of the container between the filling and the fixing step.
  • said fixing step d) is carried out by thermo-welding, for example by ultrasound, of the cover on the base.
  • the sterilization in step b) of sterilization is performed by an electron beam generated by an electron beam emitter when the lid of the plug is in the open position.
  • said sterilization step b) is carried out by a transmitter equipped with a tubular nozzle capable of delivering, by its distal end, the electron beam created by the emitter, said sterilization step comprising
  • At least two successive steps from steps a), b), c) and d) are performed at different successive processing stations, the lid of the cap being in the closed position between two successive processing stations.
  • the steps a), b), c) and d) are carried out at different treatment stations, the cap being in the closed position during the transfer of the container from one station to another, the step sterilization comprising the operation of the plug to its closed position at the end of the emission of the electron beam.
  • the operation of the cover between its two positions is carried out by relative displacement, preferably in vertical translation, of an actuating system of a treatment station with respect to the stopper, said actuation system being suitable to cooperate with at least one complementary actuating member of the cover to move the latter between its two positions.
  • the method comprises, after the filling step, and preferably after the fixing step d), a step e) of shaving said actuating member.
  • the present invention also relates to a lid cap, for implementing the method described above, said lid cap comprising a tubular base, whereby said cap is intended to be assembled on a container, in particular the neck of a container, and a hinged lid on the tubular base, by means of a hinge, about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base, between a closed position and an open position, the base, the lid and the hinge being formed of a one-piece piece, of thermoplastic material for example, said lid cap being characterized in that said lid is adapted to be heat-sealed in the closed position on its base.
  • said cover and / or said base has an annular layer of a hot melt material for fixing by heat sealing the cover on its base.
  • the cap comprises an actuating lever of the lid disposed on the cover on the side of the joint.
  • the present invention also relates to a treatment device for implementing the method according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises one or more treatment stations for the sterilization of containers by electron beam and / or the filling containers with a filling liquid, each treatment station comprising sterilization means which comprise an electron beam emitter and / or
  • filling means such as a filling spout or one or more filling cannulas
  • each station further comprising an actuating system adapted to cooperate with an actuating member, such as a lever, the lid of a lid cap mounted on said container during a relative displacement in vertical translation of said system; actuation with respect to said container carried by the support means for operating said lid between a closed position of the lid and an open position, said lid being operated in the open position to perform the treatment, namely sterilization and / or filling, and is maneuvered in closed position at the end of said treatment, the transmitter then to sterilize the plug surfaces intended to be in contact with the filler.
  • an actuating system adapted to cooperate with an actuating member, such as a lever, the lid of a lid cap mounted on said container during a relative displacement in vertical translation of said system
  • actuation with respect to said container carried by the support means for operating said lid between a closed position of the lid and an open position, said lid being operated in the open position to perform the treatment, namely sterilization and / or filling, and is maneuvered in closed position at the end of said treatment
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a container treatment device according to the invention, comprising an assembly station for a lid stopper, a sterilization station, a filling station, a thermo station, sealing of the stopper and a stoppering station of the stopper;
  • FIG. 2 A is a perspective view of a lid cap according to the invention, the lid being in the closed position;
  • - Figure 2B is a perspective view of the cap of Figure 1, the lid being in the open position;
  • FIGS. 3A to 3E are diagrammatic side views of a stopper and the operating system of the sterilization station and the filling station illustrating the different positions of the actuating system with respect to the stopper for operating the cover of the stopper between its closed position and its open position;
  • FIGS. 4A to 4E are side views of the sterilization station illustrating the different positions of the protection system, the transmitter, the actuating system and the lid during the sterilization of a container;
  • FIGS. 5A to 5D are side views of the filling station illustrating the different positions of the filling cannula, the actuating system and the lid when filling a container.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a treatment device for assembling a lid stopper on containers R, sterilization of containers R equipped with a stopper, filling containers sterilized with a filling product, and definitive capping, sealed, containers.
  • the device according to the invention allows the sterilization, filling and capping of any type of container R comprising an upper main opening, and in particular a neck.
  • the containers may be of the bottle type, as schematically illustrated in the figures, glass or plastic material such as PET, HDPE or PP.
  • the containers may also be cardboard bricks, for example of oblong shape, preformed and already closed, with at the top a heat-sealed base, on which is assembled a lid cap according to the invention.
  • the processing device comprises a processing line 1 comprising a conveying system 10, operating step by step, along which are arranged upstream to downstream with respect to the advancing direction F1, an assembly station 2 for the assembly of a cap 3 with lid on the containers, a sterilization station 4 for the sterilization of containers, a filling station 7, a welding station 8, and a station 9 for shaving.
  • the whole of the treatment line is placed under a laminar flow of sterile air, for example a descending laminar flow, as shown schematically by the arrows F5.
  • the assembly station 2 here makes it possible to screw a cap 3 with a lid onto the neck of empty containers, and thus comprises screwing means, known per se, for screwing a plug.
  • the plug 3 comprises a hollow tubular base 31 of longitudinal axis A, of circular section, and a cover 32 articulated on the tubular base, by means of a hinge 33, between a closed position illustrated in Figure 2 A and an open position illustrated in Figure 2B.
  • the displacement of the cover between its two positions is achieved by pivoting about a pivot axis, defined by the articulation, which is perpendicular to the axis A of the tubular base.
  • the base is assembled on the neck of the container by screwing.
  • the inner wall of the base is provided with ribs for gripping and screwing the cap on the neck of a container, this neck being provided with a helical external thread.
  • the cap is assembled by snapping its base on the neck of the container.
  • the hinge 33 is of the hinge-film type, the base, the cover and the hinge being made of a single piece of plastic material, for example polyethylene or polypropylene.
  • the cover is formed of a simple circular plate, the outer diameter of the side wall of the cover substantially corresponding to the outer diameter of the side wall of the base.
  • the cover comes by its lower main face 32a against the upper annular edge 31a of the base, so as to close the internal passage of the tubular base, and therefore the upper opening of the container equipped with said cap.
  • the cover is disposed substantially 90 ° of the base, parallel to the axis A of the latter.
  • the hinge is advantageously of hinge-film type spring effect, known per se, to assist the closing movement of the cover and / or the opening movement, preferably the closing movement and the opening movement, the lid being elastically biased towards its closed position and towards its open position from an unstable position also called "dead point". In its closed position, the lid is held resiliently against the base.
  • the lid is provided with an actuating member intended to cooperate with a complementary actuating system, which equips the sterilization station and the filling station, to maneuver the lid between its two positions.
  • the actuating member is formed of a lever 34 or lug, disposed on the cover 32, on the side of the joint. The lever extends from the main upper face 32b substantially at 45 ° outwardly beyond the side wall of the lid.
  • the lower main face 32a is provided with an annular layer 35 of a fastening material, whereby the lid in the closed position comes against the annular edge 31a of the base.
  • the fixing material is in particular a hot melt material, for example having a melting point lower than that of the material constituting the base of the lid and the joint.
  • the hot melt material is, for example, a silicone or a polymer product sold under the trade name Surlyn.
  • the actuating system 6 comprises a hollow cylindrical part, called the actuating cylinder 61, comprising a central passage 62, an open upper end 63 and an open lower end 64.
  • the inner face of the actuating cylinder is provided, at its lower end, with an annular groove 65.
  • the groove is defined between a circular upper edge 66 and a circular lower edge 67, the upper circular edge being offset towards the outside. inside with respect to the lower edge.
  • the container equipped with the cap 3 with its cover in the closed position is placed under the actuating cylinder 6, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the longitudinal axes of the base and of the actuating cylinder being substantially aligned.
  • a relative movement of the actuating cylinder 6 is effected downwards in vertical translation.
  • the lever 34 passes beyond the lower edge 67, which is recessed with respect to the upper edge 66, and the actuating cylinder 6 abuts by the upper edge 66. against the lever and rotate the lid to open, as shown in Figure 3B.
  • the actuating cylinder 6 is moved down to the position shown in Figure 3C, to bring the lid open. As described below, especially for filling, the actuating cylinder 6 can be raised slightly as shown in Figure 3D, so that the lever is no longer in contact with the cylinder. If the hinge is spring-loaded, the cylinder presses the lever to the dead point of the lid, for example 45 ° of the plane of opening of the base, then accompanies the movement of the cover, beyond its point dead, to its open position. The lid is lowered from its position in Figure 3B only to the position shown in Figure 3D.
  • the actuating cylinder For closing the lid, the actuating cylinder is raised from its position in FIG. 3D to its position in FIG. 3A. During this ascent, the lower edge 67 presses the lever and pivots the cover 32 to its closed position, as shown in Figure 3E.
  • the sterilization station 4 allows sterilization of the inner wall of the containers and the stopper, through the upper opening of the containers.
  • the sterilization station is for example similar to that described in the French patent application No. 0959655, filed on 29/12/09 by the applicant.
  • the sterilization station 4 comprises sterilization means formed of an electron beam emitter 41, known per se, provided with a tubular nozzle or tubular antenna 411, of elongated shape, the emitter being able to deliver an electron beam through the distal end of its nozzle.
  • the sterilization means are for example formed of an emitter, as described in the document US Patent 2008/0073549.
  • the transmitter is fixedly mounted on the lower face of a plate or plate 42 said upper, its nozzle, vertical longitudinal axis B, extending vertically downwards.
  • the nozzle is defined so that it can be inserted through the upper opening of the containers equipped with the caps with their lid in the open position, in order to irradiate the inside of the containers.
  • the support plate is mounted movably on the frame of the device, by means of displacement means 43, also called up / down means, known per se, for moving the upper plate in vertical translation, as illustrated by the arrow F2, between a retracted high position, and low active positions described below.
  • Each sterilization station further comprises means for supporting a container R for holding a container under the emitter, substantially centered along the axis B of the nozzle.
  • the support means comprise a saddle or plate 44 said lower, fixedly mounted on the frame of the device.
  • the device according to the invention comprises a protection or shielding system for stopping the radiation emitted by the emitters, in particular X-ray type spurious radiations.
  • This shielding system comprises an upper part and a lower part.
  • the upper portion is in the form of a bell formed by the upper plate 42 and an upper tubular wall 45, also called upper skirt, extending downwardly from said upper plate.
  • the upper plate constitutes the bottom wall of the bell, the upper skirt 45 surrounds the transmitter 41 and its antenna 411 and extends beyond the distal end of the antenna.
  • the lower portion is formed by said lower plate 44 and a lower tubular wall 46, also called lower skirt, extending downwardly from said lower plate 44.
  • the displacement means act on the support means, the bell being fixedly mounted on the frame.
  • the sterilization station is further equipped with an actuating cylinder 6, as previously described.
  • the actuating system is mounted movably in the bell, on the upper plate 42.
  • the actuating cylinder is slidably mounted on at least one vertical guide rod 47, preferably at least two guide rods, fixed on the upper plate and extending into the bell parallel to the upper skirt.
  • the actuating cylinder 6 is provided with a flange at its upper opening, the rod passing through a hole of said flange 68 and being provided at its end. free of a stop 47a.
  • the bottom plate 44 is provided with a vertical bar or spacer 48 serving as a stop for the actuating cylinder.
  • the annular free edge of the bell is disposed above the lower plate, so that a container R can be brought on said lower plate, under the transmitter and under the bell.
  • the actuating cylinder is in abutment against the stop 47a.
  • the distal end of the nozzle is for example disposed in the actuating cylinder, above the upper edge 66.
  • the top plate 42 is moved in vertical translation downwards, via the displacement means 43, to a first active position, illustrated in FIG. 4C.
  • the actuating cylinder comes against the lever of the plug, as shown in Figure 4B, and moves the cover to its open position.
  • the actuating cylinder In the first active position of FIG. 4C, the actuating cylinder is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3C, and is supported by its flange 68 against the abutment 47a and against the free end of the spacer 48.
  • bell comes to cover the container R, the lower skirt 46 of the lower part sliding in the upper skirt 45 of the bell.
  • the transmitter 41 and its antenna 411 are arranged above the opening of the container.
  • the upper plate 42 and the upper skirt 45 forming the bell, and the lower plate 44 provided with its lower skirt 46, are made of lead, and together form in this first active position a protective enclosure E.
  • the transmitter 41 can be activated to irradiate the outer wall of the container and the cap.
  • the upper skirt 45 and the lower skirt overlap to a height sufficient to prevent radiation from exiting the enclosure E.
  • the top plate 4 is then moved further downwards, via the displacement means 43, to the extreme active position illustrated in FIG. 4E, in order to irradiate the whole of the inner wall of the container.
  • the lower skirt 46 of the lower part slides in the upper skirt 45 of the bell.
  • the length of the nozzle 411 and the height of the upper skirt 45 are adapted, so that the distal end of the nozzle is disposed near the bottom of the container R in the extreme active position.
  • the flange 68 abuts against the spacer slides along the guide rod 47, so that the actuating cylinder keeps the same position relative to the container, to maintain the lid of the cap in open position.
  • FIG. 4D illustrates an intermediate position of the plate between the first active position and the extreme position.
  • the upper plate 42 is then progressively brought back to its first active position illustrated in FIG. 4C.
  • the irradiation is then stopped, and the upper plate 4 is returned to its retracted position illustrated in FIG. 4A.
  • the lid is brought back by the actuating cylinder into its closed position.
  • the conveyor 10 is then activated to evacuate the treated container and transfer it to the filling station, and to bring a new container to be treated under the transmitter.
  • the sterilization station preferably comprises injection means for injecting a product into the chamber, in order to expel the ozone generated during the sterilization by electron beam, and evacuation means for the evacuation of gas from the enclosure.
  • the station comprises a tubing or injection cannula 49 fixedly mounted in the bell. This cannula extends parallel to the antenna of the transmitter, the distal end of the cannula being disposed substantially at the same level as the distal end of the antenna. This cannula substantially substantially crosses the top plate 42 of the bell.
  • the cannula is used to inject into the container R a neutral gas, such as nitrogen, immediately after the irradiation, for example when the upper plate 4 is in its first active position, in order to create an overpressure in the container R and thus expel out of the container the ozone generated by the irradiation.
  • a neutral gas such as nitrogen
  • the injection of neutral gas is also performed during irradiation, for example when the upper plate is moved from its extreme active position to its first active position.
  • the cannula is used to deliver liquid nitrogen to the container R, for example a drop of liquid nitrogen, during and / or just after the irradiation, the liquid nitrogen passing in the gas phase then progressively fills the container and gradually flush the ozone out of the container.
  • vent holes 50 opening into the enclosure E to prevent overpressure inside the enclosure. These vent holes serve to evacuate the gas that is contained in the chamber and is compressed during the descent of the upper plate to its extreme active position. Moreover, these vent holes are used to evacuate the ozone generated in the container by the irradiation and pushed outside the container R by the injected nitrogen.
  • a baffle system 51 made of lead, is provided on the lower face of the upper plate to screen the X-rays generated during the irradiation, and thus prevent any propagation of radiation outside the chamber by said vent holes .
  • the vent holes are connected to flexible pipes, put under vacuum, to suck the compressed gas by the relative movement of the bell and the lower part, including the ozone generated by the irradiation.
  • a system 52 of baffles is provided to prevent any propagation of radiation at the interface between the upper part and the lower part of the protection system, more precisely at the interface between the wall 45. tubular upper of the bell, and the lower tubular wall 46.
  • the baffle system 52 includes a horizontal annular flange 52a extending outwardly from the free edge of the lower tubular wall 46, and extending through a vertical annular wall 52b, which extends upwardly parallel to the wall. lower tubular, substantially to the lower plate 44.
  • This annular wall 52b forms with the lower tubular wall 46 an annular housing 53 in which slides the upper tubular wall 45 of the bell during the relative movement of the bell relative to the lower plate 44.
  • the filling station for example of the weight type, makes it possible to fill the sterilized containers with a determined quantity of filling product, the filling product being liquid or viscous, for example a liquid product such as water, milk or water. fruit juice.
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are two schematic side views, at 90 ° to one another, of the filling station.
  • the filling station 7 comprises filling means comprising a filling cannula 71 of axis C and means 72 for supporting a container equipped with a lid cap under said cannula. filling.
  • First displacement means 73 allow a relative displacement in vertical translation of the cannula relative to the support means, as illustrated by the arrow F3, between a high position in which the cannula is disposed above the container, and a low position. in which the cannula enters the container.
  • said first displacement means 73 act on said cannula, the support means being fixedly mounted on the frame of the device.
  • the filling station is also equipped with an actuating cylinder 6 for opening the lid just before filling and closing the lid just after filling.
  • the actuating cylinder centered along the axis C of the cannula, is movably mounted on the frame of the device via second displacement means 74.
  • the actuating cylinder is equipped with a control rod 741, mounted on the flange and provided at its free end with a roller which cooperates with a mechanical cam 743 to move the cylinder in vertical translation, as illustrated by FIG. arrow F4, between a high position illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in which the actuating cylinder 42 is disposed above the cap of a container supported by the support means 72, and a low position illustrated in FIG. 5C , corresponding to the position of Figure 3C.
  • the cylinder can be moved upwards from its low position to an intermediate low position illustrated in FIG. 3D, corresponding to the position illustrated in FIG. 5D, in which the lever is no longer in contact with the cylinder.
  • This intermediate low position is particularly advantageous in the case of a weight distribution for filling the containers.
  • the second displacement means 74 may be provided to go directly from the high position to the intermediate low position of FIG. 5D, without going through the lower position of Figure 5C.
  • the cannula which is in the upper position, above the lid, can be moved to its lower position to perform the filling operation. After filling, the cannula is moved into position high, then the cylinder can be moved to the high position to return the lid to the closed position.
  • the heat-sealing station 8 comprises heating means for heating the plug fixing material when the lid is in the closed position, in order to heat-seal the lid and the base.
  • the thermo-welding station comprises, for example, ultrasonic welding means, in order to minimize heating of the plastic material constituting the plug.
  • the leveling station 9 makes it possible to cut the lever 34 at its base, the lever being for example leveled by rotation of the container against a flat cutting blade fixedly mounted on the frame of the device.
  • the treatment of a container by the device according to the invention is as follows.
  • the empty container is transferred to the assembly station 2 where a cap with its lid in the closed position is assembled by screwing on the neck of the container.
  • the container is then transferred with its cover in the closed position to the sterilization station 4.
  • the top plate 42 is moved to maneuver the lid in the open position via the actuating cylinder, introduce the nozzle 411 of the emitter into the container, then remove the nozzle from the container, and maneuver the lid towards its position. closed position.
  • the container sterilized with the lid in the closed position is then transferred to the filling station 7 where the actuating cylinder 6 of said station and the cannula 71 are moved via their respective displacement means to maneuver the lid to its open position, introduce the cannula into the container for filling, remove the cannula from the container and then maneuver the lid to its closed position.
  • the container is then transferred with its cover in the closed position to the heat-sealing station 8 for the final closure of the plug, by heat-sealing the cover on the base, then the container is transferred to the station 9 of shaving for the removal of the lever 44.
  • the lid is thus closed just after the sterilization operation, opened just before the filling operation and closed again just after the filling operation, which prevents any possible contamination of the inside of the container at the sterilization station and filling station.
  • the lid is in the closed position which prevents any possible contamination during these two transfer phases.
  • the device according to the invention thus allows the sterile filling of different containers at a very high level of sterilization, of the order of Log6.
  • a lid cap makes it possible to use containers with a large upper opening, allowing the filling station to pass two filling cannulas into the container.
  • the container is filled by means of two parallel cannulas which fit into the container and which are used to deliver different products.
  • a first cannula is used to deliver for example a liquid, such as a fruit juice, the other cannula being used to deliver pulp and / or vitamins for example.
  • the linear type device described with reference to the figures can of course comprise several parallel treatment lines, each treatment line comprising one or more assembly stations, sterilization stations, filling stations, heat sealing stations and shaving stations. .
  • the treatment device according to the invention may also be of the rotary type, the treatment device comprising a first carousel or turret for assembling the stopper, in particular screwing the stopper, a second carousel for carrying out the sterilization, a third carousel for filling said sterilized containers with a filler, a fourth carousel for thermo-welding, and a fifth carousel for effecting the shaving of the lever.
  • Transfer systems for example of the transfer star type, are provided between two successive carousels to transfer the containers.
  • the sterilization carousel comprises a support plate or top plate, in the form of a circular or annular plate, intended to be rotatably mounted on a fixed frame about a vertical axis of rotation.
  • the support plate carries a plurality of processing stations arranged at regular angular space around the axis of rotation.
  • Each station includes a transmitter mounted on the underside of the tray.
  • the upper part of the protection system consists of the plateau support and a plurality of so-called upper skirts surrounding the transmitters and extending from the underside of the tray.
  • Each upper skirt forms with the upper plate a bell associated with a treatment station.
  • Each station comprises an actuating cylinder mounted in the bell as previously described.
  • each treatment station comprise a fifth wheel or lower plate equipped with a lower skirt and a spacer serving as a stop for the actuating cylinder.
  • Each treatment station comprises displacement means acting this time on the lower plate to move it between a position spaced from the upper plate to allow the positioning of a container on the lower plate and the withdrawal of a container from the lower plate. , for example by means of an input star and an output star, and active positions, as described above, in which the lower plate with its upper skirt forms with the upper bell a protective enclosure.
  • the filling carousel is of the same type as the sterilization carousel, it comprises a rotatable support plate carrying a plurality of treatment stations arranged at regular angular space, each treatment station comprising filling means comprising a filling spout or one or a plurality of filling cannulas, an actuating cylinder, and support means for supporting a container under said filling spout.
  • the treatment device comprises a sterilization carousel of the type described in the French patent application No. 0958648 filed on December 3, 2009
  • the protection system comprises a chute.
  • the treatment device comprises a carousel whose treatment stations comprise both sterilization means and filling means, as described in the French patent application No. 0958647, filed on 3 / 12/09 by the plaintiff.
  • the sterilization is carried out from outside the container, for example by gamma radiation, with the lid of the cap in the closed position.
  • the plug does not comprise an annular layer of hot melt material, the lid is heat sealed directly on the base, for example by ultrasound.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for processing containers, to a processing device and to a particular cap for implementing the method according to the invention. The method includes, for each container to be processed: a) an assembling step of assembling a cap having a cover (3) on a container (R), said cap including a tubular base and a cover pivotably connected to said base, between an open position and a closed position, said cap being assembled via the base thereof onto said container at an opening of said container; b) a step of sterilizing the container provided with the cap having a cover; c) a step of filling the container, said filling step including filling the container with a filling product while the cap having the cover is in the open position, and moving the cover into the closed position.

Description

PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF DE TRAITEMENT DE RECIPIENTS  METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROCESSING CONTAINERS
La présente invention concerne un procédé de traitement de récipients comprenant la stérilisation, le remplissage et le bouchage de récipients, pour obtenir des récipients stérilisés, remplis avec un produit de remplissage stérile et obturés avec un bouchon. La présente invention concerne également un dispositif de traitement et un bouchon particulier pour la mise en œuvre du procédé selon l'invention. The present invention relates to a method of treating containers comprising sterilizing, filling and capping containers, to obtain sterilized containers, filled with a sterile filler and closed with a stopper. The present invention also relates to a treatment device and a particular stopper for implementing the method according to the invention.
Le procédé de remplissage classique, pour le remplissage d'un récipient comportant en particulier une ouverture supérieure, et notamment un col, comprend dans un premier temps la stérilisation du récipient, son remplissage avec un produit de remplissage stérile, puis son bouchage par la mise en place d'un bouchon stérilisé. La stérilisation, le remplissage et le bouchage sont réalisés sur trois postes de traitements différents, par exemple sur les postes de trois carrousels différents.  The conventional filling method, for filling a container comprising in particular an upper opening, and in particular a neck, comprises first of all the sterilization of the container, its filling with a sterile filling product, and then its capping by the setting in place of a sterilized stopper. Sterilization, filling and capping are performed on three different treatment stations, for example on the stations of three different carousels.
Pour la stérilisation, il est connu, notamment par le document brevet US2009/0045350, des dispositifs de traitement comprenant un carrousel rotatif comportant un plateau support rotatif portant une pluralité de postes de traitement disposés à espace angulaire régulier, chaque poste de traitement comprenant des moyens de stérilisation qui comportent un émetteur de faisceau d'électrons, et des moyens de support pour supporter un récipient sous ledit émetteur, ledit émetteur étant apte à émettre un faisceau d'électrons passant par l'ouverture supérieure d'un récipient porté par lesdits moyens de support, afin de stériliser le récipient, en particulier la paroi interne dudit récipient. Par rapport à une stérilisation classique par voie chimique, la stérilisation par faisceau d'électrons se révèle plus efficace en termes de stérilisation, plus rapide, et ne laisse pas de traces résiduelles après traitement. Ce type de stérilisation permet un remplissage à un niveau de stérilité élevé.  For sterilization, it is known, in particular from document US2009 / 0045350, processing devices comprising a rotary carousel comprising a rotating support plate carrying a plurality of treatment stations arranged at regular angular space, each treatment station comprising means sterilization apparatus which comprises an electron beam emitter, and support means for supporting a container under said emitter, said emitter being adapted to emit an electron beam passing through the upper opening of a container carried by said emitter in order to sterilize the container, in particular the inner wall of said container. Compared to conventional chemical sterilization, electron beam sterilization is more effective in terms of sterilization, faster, and does not leave residual traces after treatment. This type of sterilization allows filling at a high level of sterility.
Le remplissage peut être effectué au moyen d'un carrousel du même type que pour la stérilisation, chaque poste de traitement comprenant des moyens de remplissage, tel qu'un bec de remplissage ou une ou plusieurs canules de remplissage, et des moyens de support pour supporter un récipient sous ledit bec de remplissage. Le bouchage peut comprendre le vissage d'un bouchon sur le col des récipients. Pour obtenir un produit final avec un niveau de stérilité important le bouchon est de préférence préalablement stérilisé avec un système particulier. The filling can be carried out by means of a carousel of the same type as for the sterilization, each treatment station comprising filling means, such as a filling spout or one or more filling cannulas, and support means for support a container under said filling spout. Clogging may include screwing a plug on the neck of the containers. To obtain a final product with a high level of sterility, the stopper is preferably pre-sterilized with a particular system.
Le but de l'invention est de proposer un nouveau procédé qui permet d'obtenir un remplissage stérile de récipients avec un niveau de stérilité élevé, qui soit plus important que celui obtenu par un procédé classique de remplissage.  The object of the invention is to propose a new process which makes it possible to obtain a sterile filling of containers with a high level of sterility, which is greater than that obtained by a conventional filling method.
A cet effet, la présente invention propose un procédé de traitement de récipients pour obtenir des récipients remplis avec un produit de remplissage et obturés avec un bouchon caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend, pour chaque récipient à traiter,  For this purpose, the present invention proposes a process for treating containers to obtain containers filled with a filling product and closed with a stopper characterized in that it comprises, for each container to be treated,
a) une étape d'assemblage pour l'assemblage d'un bouchon à couvercle sur un récipient, ledit bouchon comprenant une embase tubulaire et un couvercle articulé sur ladite embase, au moyen d'une articulation, entre une position ouverte et une position fermée, ledit bouchon étant assemblé par son embase sur ledit récipient au niveau d'une ouverture dudit récipient, de préférence au niveau d'une ouverture supérieure de ce dernier, par exemple au niveau du col d'un récipient b) une étape de stérilisation du récipient équipé de son bouchon à couvercle, notamment de la paroi interne du récipient,  a) an assembly step for assembling a lid cap on a container, said cap comprising a tubular base and a hinged lid on said base, by means of a hinge, between an open position and a closed position said plug being assembled by its base on said container at an opening of said container, preferably at an upper opening thereof, for example at the neck of a container b) a sterilization step of container equipped with its lid cap, in particular of the inner wall of the container,
c) une étape de remplissage du récipient, ladite étape de remplissage comprenant le remplissage du récipient en produit de remplissage, par son ouverture, avec le couvercle de son bouchon en position ouverte, et la manœuvre du couvercle vers sa position fermée.  c) a step of filling the container, said filling step comprising filling the container filling product, by opening, with the lid of its plug in the open position, and the operation of the lid to its closed position.
Selon l'invention, un bouchon à couvercle, appelé également bouchon à clapet, est mis en place sur chaque récipient avant sa stérilisation, le couvercle étant manœuvré en position ouverte pour le remplissage du récipient, ce qui permet de garantir au récipient rempli et obturé un niveau de stérilité élevé. Le couvercle peut en outre être mis en position fermée, entre l'étape d'assemblage du bouchon et l'étape de stérilisation, après l'étape de remplissage, ainsi qu'éventuellement entre l'étape de stérilisation et l'étape de remplissage. L'utilisation du bouchon à couvercle permet d'avoir un récipient étanche pendant les étapes de transfert entre différents postes de traitement. En outre, l'étape de stérilisation permet de stériliser simultanément l'intérieur du récipient ainsi que les surfaces du bouchon qui seront en contact avec le produit de remplissage. Le procédé selon l'invention se révèle performant en termes de niveau de stérilité, tout en restant simple de conception et de mise en œuvre. According to the invention, a lid cap, also called a flapper cap, is placed on each container before sterilization, the lid being operated in the open position for filling the container, which ensures the container filled and closed a high level of sterility. The lid can also be placed in the closed position, between the plug assembly step and the sterilization step, after the filling step, and possibly between the sterilization step and the filling step. . The use of the lid cap makes it possible to have a sealed container during the transfer steps between different treatment stations. In addition, the sterilization step simultaneously sterilizes the interior of the container as well as the surfaces of the plug which will be in contact with the filling product. The method according to the invention is efficient in terms of sterility level, while remaining simple design and implementation.
Selon une particularité, l'étape c) de remplissage est suivie d'une étape d) de fixation, de manière étanche, du couvercle dans sa position fermée sur l'embase. Cette étape de fixation garantit une parfaite étanchéité et ainsi un bon niveau de stérilité après remplissage. Dès le remplissage terminé, le couvercle est amené en position fermée, ce qui garantit une bonne stérilité du récipient entre le remplissage et l'étape de fixation. Selon un mode de réalisation, ladite étape d) de fixation est réalisée par thermo-soudure, par exemple par ultrasons, du couvercle sur l'embase.  According to one feature, the filling step c) is followed by a step d) of fixing, in a sealed manner, the lid in its closed position on the base. This fixing step guarantees a perfect seal and thus a good level of sterility after filling. As soon as the filling is complete, the lid is brought to the closed position, which guarantees a good sterility of the container between the filling and the fixing step. According to one embodiment, said fixing step d) is carried out by thermo-welding, for example by ultrasound, of the cover on the base.
Selon une autre particularité, la stérilisation à l'étape b) de stérilisation est réalisée par un faisceau d'électrons généré par un émetteur de faisceau d'électrons lorsque le couvercle du bouchon est en position ouverte.  In another feature, the sterilization in step b) of sterilization is performed by an electron beam generated by an electron beam emitter when the lid of the plug is in the open position.
L'utilisation d'un bouchon à couvercle selon l'invention, permet d'utiliser des récipients à grande ouverture supérieure tout en garantissant un bon niveau de stérilisation, cette grande ouverture permettant le passage aisé de l'antenne d'émetteur à faisceaux d'électrons. Selon un mode de réalisation, ladite étape b) de stérilisation est réalisée par un émetteur équipé d'une buse tubulaire apte à délivrer par son extrémité distale le faisceau d'électrons créé par l'émetteur, ladite étape de stérilisation comprenant  The use of a lid cap according to the invention makes it possible to use containers with a large upper opening while guaranteeing a good level of sterilization, this large opening allowing the easy passage of the emitter beam antenna. electrons. According to one embodiment, said sterilization step b) is carried out by a transmitter equipped with a tubular nozzle capable of delivering, by its distal end, the electron beam created by the emitter, said sterilization step comprising
- la manœuvre du couvercle vers sa position ouverte,  - the operation of the lid towards its open position,
- l'introduction de la buse dans le récipient, en passant par son ouverture, et  - the introduction of the nozzle in the container, through its opening, and
- le retrait de la buse hors du récipient.  - removal of the nozzle from the container.
Selon une autre particularité d'un mode de réalisation, au moins deux étapes successives parmi les étapes a), b), c) et d) sont réalisées à des postes de traitement successifs différents, le couvercle du bouchon étant en position fermée entre deux postes de traitement successifs.  According to another feature of an embodiment, at least two successive steps from steps a), b), c) and d) are performed at different successive processing stations, the lid of the cap being in the closed position between two successive processing stations.
Selon un mode de réalisation, les étapes a), b), c) et d) sont réalisées à des postes de traitement différents, le bouchon étant en position fermée lors du transfert du récipient d'un poste à l'autre, l'étape de stérilisation comprenant la manœuvre du bouchon vers sa position fermée à l'issue de l'émission du faisceau d'électrons. According to one embodiment, the steps a), b), c) and d) are carried out at different treatment stations, the cap being in the closed position during the transfer of the container from one station to another, the step sterilization comprising the operation of the plug to its closed position at the end of the emission of the electron beam.
Selon un mode de réalisation, la manœuvre du couvercle entre ses deux positions est réalisée par déplacement relatif, de préférence en translation verticale d'un système d'actionnement d'un poste de traitement par rapport au bouchon, ledit système d'actionnement étant apte à coopérer avec au moins un organe d'actionnement saillant complémentaire du couvercle pour déplacer ce dernier entre ses deux positions.  According to one embodiment, the operation of the cover between its two positions is carried out by relative displacement, preferably in vertical translation, of an actuating system of a treatment station with respect to the stopper, said actuation system being suitable to cooperate with at least one complementary actuating member of the cover to move the latter between its two positions.
Selon un mode de réalisation, le procédé comprend, après l'étape de remplissage, et de préférence après l'étape d) de fixation, une étape e) d'arasage dudit organe d'actionnement.  According to one embodiment, the method comprises, after the filling step, and preferably after the fixing step d), a step e) of shaving said actuating member.
La présente invention a également pour objet un bouchon à couvercle, pour la mise en œuvre du procédé décrit précédemment, ledit bouchon à couvercle comprenant une embase tubulaire, par laquelle ledit bouchon est destiné à être assemblé sur un récipient, en particulier le col d'un récipient, et un couvercle articulé sur l'embase tubulaire, au moyen d'une articulation, autour d'un axe perpendiculaire à l'axe longitudinal de l'embase, entre une position fermée et une position ouverte, l'embase, le couvercle et l'articulation étant formés d'une pièce monobloc, en matériau thermoplastique par exemple, ledit bouchon à couvercle étant caractérisé en ce que ledit couvercle est apte à être thermosoudé en position fermée sur son embase.  The present invention also relates to a lid cap, for implementing the method described above, said lid cap comprising a tubular base, whereby said cap is intended to be assembled on a container, in particular the neck of a container, and a hinged lid on the tubular base, by means of a hinge, about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base, between a closed position and an open position, the base, the lid and the hinge being formed of a one-piece piece, of thermoplastic material for example, said lid cap being characterized in that said lid is adapted to be heat-sealed in the closed position on its base.
Selon un mode de réalisation, ledit couvercle et/ou ladite embase présente une couche annulaire d'un matériau thermofusible pour la fixation par thermo soudure du couvercle sur son embase.  According to one embodiment, said cover and / or said base has an annular layer of a hot melt material for fixing by heat sealing the cover on its base.
Selon un mode de réalisation, le bouchon comprend un levier d'actionnement du couvercle disposé sur le couvercle du côté de l'articulation.  According to one embodiment, the cap comprises an actuating lever of the lid disposed on the cover on the side of the joint.
La présente invention a également pour objet un dispositif de traitement pour la mise en œuvre du procédé selon l'invention, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un ou plusieurs postes de traitement pour la stérilisation de récipients par faisceau d'électrons et/ou le remplissage de récipients avec un liquide de remplissage, chaque poste de traitement comprenant - des moyens de stérilisation qui comportent un émetteur de faisceau d'électrons et/ou The present invention also relates to a treatment device for implementing the method according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises one or more treatment stations for the sterilization of containers by electron beam and / or the filling containers with a filling liquid, each treatment station comprising sterilization means which comprise an electron beam emitter and / or
- des moyens de remplissage, tel qu'un bec de remplissage ou une ou plusieurs canules de remplissage, et  filling means, such as a filling spout or one or more filling cannulas, and
- des moyens de support pour supporter un récipient sous ledit émetteur et/ou sous lesdits moyens de remplissage, ledit émetteur étant apte à émettre un faisceau d'électrons passant par l'ouverture supérieure d'un récipient porté par lesdits moyens de support afin de stériliser ledit récipient, en particulier la paroi interne du récipient, lesdits moyens de remplissage étant aptes à délivrer une quantité déterminée de produit de remplissage dans un récipient, porté par lesdits moyens de support, par son ouverture supérieure  support means for supporting a receptacle under said emitter and / or under said filling means, said emitter being able to emit an electron beam passing through the upper opening of a container carried by said support means in order to sterilizing said container, in particular the inner wall of the container, said filling means being able to deliver a determined quantity of filling product into a container, carried by said support means, by its upper opening
chaque poste comprenant en outre un système d'actionnement apte à coopérer avec un organe d'actionnement, tel qu'un levier, du couvercle d'un bouchon à couvercle monté sur ledit récipient lors d'un déplacement relatif en translation verticale dudit système d'actionnement par rapport audit récipient porté par les moyens de support pour manœuvrer ledit couvercle entre une position fermée du couvercle et une position ouverte, ledit couvercle étant manœuvré en position ouverte pour effectuer le traitement, à savoir la stérilisation et/ou le remplissage, et est manœuvré en position fermée à l'issue dudit traitement, l'émetteur permettant alors de stériliser les surfaces du bouchon destinées à être en contact avec le produit de remplissage. each station further comprising an actuating system adapted to cooperate with an actuating member, such as a lever, the lid of a lid cap mounted on said container during a relative displacement in vertical translation of said system; actuation with respect to said container carried by the support means for operating said lid between a closed position of the lid and an open position, said lid being operated in the open position to perform the treatment, namely sterilization and / or filling, and is maneuvered in closed position at the end of said treatment, the transmitter then to sterilize the plug surfaces intended to be in contact with the filler.
L'invention sera mieux comprise, et d'autres buts, détails, caractéristiques et avantages apparaîtront plus clairement au cours de la description explicative détaillée qui va suivre d'un mode de réalisation particulier actuellement préféré de l'invention, en référence aux dessins schématiques annexés, sur lesquels :  The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed explanatory description of a particular presently preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the schematic drawings. annexed, in which:
- la figure 1 est une vue schématique de côté d'un dispositif de traitement de récipients selon l'invention, comprenant un poste d'assemblage d'un bouchon à couvercle, un poste de stérilisation, un poste de remplissage, un poste de thermo-soudure du bouchon et un poste d'arasage du bouchon ;  FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a container treatment device according to the invention, comprising an assembly station for a lid stopper, a sterilization station, a filling station, a thermo station, sealing of the stopper and a stoppering station of the stopper;
- la figure 2 A est une vue en perspective d'un bouchon à couvercle selon l'invention, le couvercle étant en position fermée ; - la figure 2B est une vue en perspective du bouchon de la figure 1, le couvercle étant en position ouverte ; - Figure 2 A is a perspective view of a lid cap according to the invention, the lid being in the closed position; - Figure 2B is a perspective view of the cap of Figure 1, the lid being in the open position;
- les figures 3A à 3E sont des vues schématiques de côté d'un bouchon et du système d'actionnement du poste de stérilisation et du poste de remplissage illustrant les différentes positions du système d'actionnement par rapport au bouchon pour manœuvrer le couvercle du bouchon entre sa position fermée et sa position ouverte ;  FIGS. 3A to 3E are diagrammatic side views of a stopper and the operating system of the sterilization station and the filling station illustrating the different positions of the actuating system with respect to the stopper for operating the cover of the stopper between its closed position and its open position;
- les figures 4A à 4E sont des vues de côté du poste de stérilisation illustrant les différentes positions du système de protection, de l'émetteur, du système d'actionnement et du couvercle lors de la stérilisation d'un récipient ; et,  FIGS. 4A to 4E are side views of the sterilization station illustrating the different positions of the protection system, the transmitter, the actuating system and the lid during the sterilization of a container; and,
- les figures 5A à 5D sont des vues de côté du poste de remplissage illustrant les différentes positions de la canule de remplissage, du système d'actionnement et du couvercle lors du remplissage d'un récipient.  - Figures 5A to 5D are side views of the filling station illustrating the different positions of the filling cannula, the actuating system and the lid when filling a container.
La figure 1 illustre un dispositif de traitement pour l'assemblage de bouchon à couvercle sur des récipients R, la stérilisation des récipients R équipés d'un bouchon, le remplissage des récipients stérilisés avec un produit de remplissage, et le bouchage définitif, de manière étanche, des récipients. Le dispositif selon l'invention permet la stérilisation, le remplissage et le bouchage de tout type de récipient R comprenant une ouverture principale supérieure, et en particulier un col. Les récipients peuvent être de type bouteilles, tel qu'illustré schématiquement sur les figures, en verre ou en matériau plastique tel que PET, HDPE ou PP. Les récipients peuvent également être des briques en carton, par exemple de forme oblongue, préformées et déjà fermées, avec en partie haute une embase thermosoudée, sur laquelle est assemblé un bouchon à couvercle selon l'invention.  FIG. 1 illustrates a treatment device for assembling a lid stopper on containers R, sterilization of containers R equipped with a stopper, filling containers sterilized with a filling product, and definitive capping, sealed, containers. The device according to the invention allows the sterilization, filling and capping of any type of container R comprising an upper main opening, and in particular a neck. The containers may be of the bottle type, as schematically illustrated in the figures, glass or plastic material such as PET, HDPE or PP. The containers may also be cardboard bricks, for example of oblong shape, preformed and already closed, with at the top a heat-sealed base, on which is assembled a lid cap according to the invention.
Le dispositif de traitement comprend une ligne 1 de traitement comprenant un système de convoyage 10, fonctionnant pas à pas, le long duquel sont disposés d'amont en aval par rapport à la direction d'avancement Fl, un poste 2 d'assemblage pour l'assemblage d'un bouchon 3 à couvercle sur les récipients, un poste 4 de stérilisation pour la stérilisation de récipients, un poste 7 de remplissage, un poste 8 de soudure, et un poste 9 d'arasage. L'ensemble de la ligne de traitement est placé sous un flux laminaire d'air stérile, par exemple un flux laminaire descendant, tel que représenté schématiquement par les flèches F5. The processing device comprises a processing line 1 comprising a conveying system 10, operating step by step, along which are arranged upstream to downstream with respect to the advancing direction F1, an assembly station 2 for the assembly of a cap 3 with lid on the containers, a sterilization station 4 for the sterilization of containers, a filling station 7, a welding station 8, and a station 9 for shaving. The whole of the treatment line is placed under a laminar flow of sterile air, for example a descending laminar flow, as shown schematically by the arrows F5.
Le poste 2 d'assemblage permet ici le vissage d'un bouchon 3 à couvercle sur le col de récipients vides, et comprend donc des moyens de vissage, connus en soi, pour le vissage d'un bouchon.  The assembly station 2 here makes it possible to screw a cap 3 with a lid onto the neck of empty containers, and thus comprises screwing means, known per se, for screwing a plug.
En référence aux figures 2 A et 2B, le bouchon 3 comprend une embase 31 tubulaire creuse, d'axe A longitudinal, de section circulaire, et un couvercle 32 articulé sur l'embase tubulaire, au moyen d'une articulation 33, entre une position fermée illustrée à la figure 2 A et une position ouverte illustrée à la figure 2B. Le déplacement du couvercle entre ses deux positions est réalisé par pivotement autour d'un axe de pivotement, défini par l'articulation, qui est perpendiculaire à l'axe A de l'embase tubulaire. L'embase est assemblée sur le col du récipient par vissage. La paroi interne de l'embase est munie de nervures permettant la prise et le vissage du bouchon sur le col d'un récipient, ce col étant muni d'un filetage externe hélicoïdal. En variante, le bouchon est assemblé par encliquetage de son embase sur le col du récipient.  With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the plug 3 comprises a hollow tubular base 31 of longitudinal axis A, of circular section, and a cover 32 articulated on the tubular base, by means of a hinge 33, between a closed position illustrated in Figure 2 A and an open position illustrated in Figure 2B. The displacement of the cover between its two positions is achieved by pivoting about a pivot axis, defined by the articulation, which is perpendicular to the axis A of the tubular base. The base is assembled on the neck of the container by screwing. The inner wall of the base is provided with ribs for gripping and screwing the cap on the neck of a container, this neck being provided with a helical external thread. Alternatively, the cap is assembled by snapping its base on the neck of the container.
L'articulation 33 est de type charnière-film, l'embase, le couvercle et l'articulation étant constitués d'une seule et même pièce en matériau plastique, par exemple en polyéthylène ou polypropylène.  The hinge 33 is of the hinge-film type, the base, the cover and the hinge being made of a single piece of plastic material, for example polyethylene or polypropylene.
Le couvercle est formé d'une simple plaque circulaire, le diamètre extérieure de la paroi latérale du couvercle correspondant sensiblement au diamètre extérieur de la paroi latérale de l'embase. En position fermée, le couvercle vient par sa face 32a principale inférieure contre le bord 31a annulaire supérieur de l'embase, de manière à obturer le passage interne de l'embase tubulaire, et donc l'ouverture supérieure du récipient équipé dudit bouchon. En position ouverte, le couvercle est disposé sensiblement 90° de l'embase, parallèlement à l'axe A de cette dernière.  The cover is formed of a simple circular plate, the outer diameter of the side wall of the cover substantially corresponding to the outer diameter of the side wall of the base. In the closed position, the cover comes by its lower main face 32a against the upper annular edge 31a of the base, so as to close the internal passage of the tubular base, and therefore the upper opening of the container equipped with said cap. In the open position, the cover is disposed substantially 90 ° of the base, parallel to the axis A of the latter.
L'articulation est avantageusement de type charnière-film à effet ressort, connu en soi, permettant d'assister le mouvement de fermeture du couvercle et/ou le mouvement d'ouverture, de préférence le mouvement de fermeture et le mouvement d'ouverture, le couvercle étant sollicité élastiquement vers sa position fermée et vers sa position ouverte depuis une position instable appelée également « point mort ». Dans sa position fermée, le couvercle est maintenu élastiquement en appui contre l'embase. The hinge is advantageously of hinge-film type spring effect, known per se, to assist the closing movement of the cover and / or the opening movement, preferably the closing movement and the opening movement, the lid being elastically biased towards its closed position and towards its open position from an unstable position also called "dead point". In its closed position, the lid is held resiliently against the base.
Le couvercle est muni d'un organe d'actionnement destiné à coopérer avec un système d'actionnement complémentaire, qui équipe le poste de stérilisation et le poste de remplissage, pour manœuvrer le couvercle entre ses deux positions. L'organe d'actionnement est formé d'un levier 34 ou patte, disposé sur le couvercle 32, du côté de l'articulation. Le levier s'étend depuis la face 32b supérieure principale sensiblement à 45°, vers l'extérieur, au-delà de la paroi latérale du couvercle.  The lid is provided with an actuating member intended to cooperate with a complementary actuating system, which equips the sterilization station and the filling station, to maneuver the lid between its two positions. The actuating member is formed of a lever 34 or lug, disposed on the cover 32, on the side of the joint. The lever extends from the main upper face 32b substantially at 45 ° outwardly beyond the side wall of the lid.
La face 32a inférieure principale est munie d'une couche 35 annulaire d'un matériau de fixation, par laquelle le couvercle en position fermée vient contre le bord 31a annulaire de l'embase. Le matériau de fixation est en particulier un matériau thermofusible, ayant par exemple un point de fusion inférieur à celui du matériau constitutif de l'embase du couvercle et de l'articulation. Le matériau thermofusible est par exemple un silicone ou un produit polymère vendu sous la dénomination commerciale Surlyn.  The lower main face 32a is provided with an annular layer 35 of a fastening material, whereby the lid in the closed position comes against the annular edge 31a of the base. The fixing material is in particular a hot melt material, for example having a melting point lower than that of the material constituting the base of the lid and the joint. The hot melt material is, for example, a silicone or a polymer product sold under the trade name Surlyn.
En référence à la figure 3 A, le système 6 d'actionnement comprend une pièce cylindrique creuse, appelée cylindre 61 d'actionnement, comprenant un passage central 62, une extrémité 63 supérieure ouverte et une extrémité 64 inférieure ouverte. La face interne du cylindre d'actionnement est munie, du côté de son extrémité inférieure, d'une gorge annulaire 65. La gorge est définie entre un bord 66 supérieur circulaire et un bord 67 inférieur circulaire, le bord circulaire supérieur étant décalé vers l'intérieur par rapport au bord inférieur.  With reference to FIG. 3A, the actuating system 6 comprises a hollow cylindrical part, called the actuating cylinder 61, comprising a central passage 62, an open upper end 63 and an open lower end 64. The inner face of the actuating cylinder is provided, at its lower end, with an annular groove 65. The groove is defined between a circular upper edge 66 and a circular lower edge 67, the upper circular edge being offset towards the outside. inside with respect to the lower edge.
Au poste de stérilisation ou au poste de remplissage, le récipient équipé du bouchon 3 avec son couvercle en position fermée est disposé sous le cylindre 6 d'actionnement, tel qu'illustré à la figure 3 A, les axes longitudinaux de l'embase et du cylindre d'actionnement étant sensiblement alignés. Pour ouvrir le couvercle, on effectue un déplacement relatif du cylindre 6 d'actionnement vers le bas, en translation verticale. Lors de ce déplacement, le levier 34 passe au-delà du bord 67 inférieur, qui est en retrait par rapport au bord 66 supérieur, et le cylindre 6 d'actionnement vient en appui par le bord 66 supérieur contre le levier et fait pivoter le couvercle pour l'ouvrir, tel qu'illustré à la figure 3B. At the sterilization station or at the filling station, the container equipped with the cap 3 with its cover in the closed position is placed under the actuating cylinder 6, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the longitudinal axes of the base and of the actuating cylinder being substantially aligned. To open the cover, a relative movement of the actuating cylinder 6 is effected downwards in vertical translation. During this movement, the lever 34 passes beyond the lower edge 67, which is recessed with respect to the upper edge 66, and the actuating cylinder 6 abuts by the upper edge 66. against the lever and rotate the lid to open, as shown in Figure 3B.
Si la charnière n'est pas à effet ressort, le cylindre 6 d'actionnement est déplacé vers le bas jusqu'à la position illustrée à la figure 3C, pour amener le couvercle en position ouverte. Tel que décrit ci-après, notamment pour le remplissage, le cylindre 6 d'actionnement peut être remonté légèrement tel qu'illustré à la figure 3D, de sorte que le levier ne soit plus en contact avec le cylindre. Si la charnière est à effet ressort, le cylindre appuie sur le levier jusqu'au point mort du couvercle, par exemple à 45° du plan d'ouverture de l'embase, puis accompagne le mouvement du couvercle, au-delà de son point mort, jusqu'à sa position ouverte. Le couvercle est descendu de sa position de la figure 3B uniquement jusqu'à la position illustrée à la figure 3D.  If the hinge is not spring loaded, the actuating cylinder 6 is moved down to the position shown in Figure 3C, to bring the lid open. As described below, especially for filling, the actuating cylinder 6 can be raised slightly as shown in Figure 3D, so that the lever is no longer in contact with the cylinder. If the hinge is spring-loaded, the cylinder presses the lever to the dead point of the lid, for example 45 ° of the plane of opening of the base, then accompanies the movement of the cover, beyond its point dead, to its open position. The lid is lowered from its position in Figure 3B only to the position shown in Figure 3D.
Dans cette position ouverte, les opérations de stérilisation et de remplissage peuvent être effectuées.  In this open position, the sterilization and filling operations can be performed.
Pour la fermeture du couvercle, le cylindre d'actionnement est remonté depuis sa position de la figure 3D jusqu'à sa position de la figure 3A. Lors de cette remontée, le bord 67 inférieur appuie sur le levier et fait pivoter le couvercle 32 vers sa position de fermeture, tel qu'illustré à la figure 3E.  For closing the lid, the actuating cylinder is raised from its position in FIG. 3D to its position in FIG. 3A. During this ascent, the lower edge 67 presses the lever and pivots the cover 32 to its closed position, as shown in Figure 3E.
Le poste 4 de stérilisation permet la stérilisation de la paroi intérieure des récipients et du bouchon, en passant par l'ouverture supérieure des récipients. Le poste de stérilisation est par exemple similaire de celui décrit dans la demande de brevet français N°0959655, déposée le 29/12/09 par la demanderesse. En référence à la figure 4A, le poste 4 de stérilisation comprend des moyens de stérilisation formés d'un émetteur 41 de faisceau à électrons, connu en soi, muni d'une buse tubulaire ou antenne 411 tubulaire, de forme allongée, l'émetteur étant apte à délivrer un faisceau d'électrons par l'extrémité distale de sa buse. Les moyens de stérilisation sont par exemple formés d'un émetteur, tel que décrit dans le document brevet US 2008/0073549. L'émetteur est monté fixe sur la face inférieure d'une platine ou plateau 42 dit supérieur, sa buse, d'axe B longitudinal vertical, s 'étendant verticalement vers le bas. La buse est définie de sorte qu'elle puisse être insérée par l'ouverture supérieure des récipients équipés des bouchons avec leur couvercle en position ouverte, afin d'irradier l'intérieur des récipients. La platine support est montée mobile sur le châssis du dispositif, par l'intermédiaire de moyens 43 de déplacement, appelés également moyens de montée/descente, connus en soi, permettant de déplacer le plateau supérieur en translation verticale, tel qu'illustré par la flèche F2, entre une position rétractée haute, et des positions actives basses décrites ci-après. The sterilization station 4 allows sterilization of the inner wall of the containers and the stopper, through the upper opening of the containers. The sterilization station is for example similar to that described in the French patent application No. 0959655, filed on 29/12/09 by the applicant. With reference to FIG. 4A, the sterilization station 4 comprises sterilization means formed of an electron beam emitter 41, known per se, provided with a tubular nozzle or tubular antenna 411, of elongated shape, the emitter being able to deliver an electron beam through the distal end of its nozzle. The sterilization means are for example formed of an emitter, as described in the document US Patent 2008/0073549. The transmitter is fixedly mounted on the lower face of a plate or plate 42 said upper, its nozzle, vertical longitudinal axis B, extending vertically downwards. The nozzle is defined so that it can be inserted through the upper opening of the containers equipped with the caps with their lid in the open position, in order to irradiate the inside of the containers. The support plate is mounted movably on the frame of the device, by means of displacement means 43, also called up / down means, known per se, for moving the upper plate in vertical translation, as illustrated by the arrow F2, between a retracted high position, and low active positions described below.
Chaque poste de stérilisation comprend en outre des moyens de support d'un récipient R pour le maintien d'un récipient sous l'émetteur, sensiblement centré selon l'axe B de la buse. Les moyens de support comprennent une sellette ou plateau 44 dit inférieur, monté fixe sur le châssis du dispositif.  Each sterilization station further comprises means for supporting a container R for holding a container under the emitter, substantially centered along the axis B of the nozzle. The support means comprise a saddle or plate 44 said lower, fixedly mounted on the frame of the device.
Le dispositif selon l'invention comprend un système de protection ou blindage pour stopper les rayonnements émis par les émetteurs, en particulier les rayonnements parasites du type rayons X. Ce système de blindage comprend une partie supérieure et une partie inférieure. La partie supérieure se présente sous la forme d'une cloche formée par le plateau 42 supérieur et une paroi 45 tubulaire supérieure, appelée également jupe supérieure, s 'étendant vers le bas depuis ledit plateau supérieur. Le plateau supérieur constitue la paroi de fond de la cloche, la jupe 45 supérieure entoure l'émetteur 41 et son antenne 411 et s'étend au-delà de l'extrémité distale de l'antenne. La partie inférieure est formée par ledit plateau 44 inférieur et par une paroi 46 tubulaire inférieure, appelée également jupe inférieure, s'étendant vers le bas depuis ledit plateau 44 inférieur. En variante, les moyens de déplacement agissent sur les moyens de support, la cloche étant montée fixe sur le châssis.  The device according to the invention comprises a protection or shielding system for stopping the radiation emitted by the emitters, in particular X-ray type spurious radiations. This shielding system comprises an upper part and a lower part. The upper portion is in the form of a bell formed by the upper plate 42 and an upper tubular wall 45, also called upper skirt, extending downwardly from said upper plate. The upper plate constitutes the bottom wall of the bell, the upper skirt 45 surrounds the transmitter 41 and its antenna 411 and extends beyond the distal end of the antenna. The lower portion is formed by said lower plate 44 and a lower tubular wall 46, also called lower skirt, extending downwardly from said lower plate 44. Alternatively, the displacement means act on the support means, the bell being fixedly mounted on the frame.
Le poste de stérilisation est en outre équipé d'un cylindre 6 d'actionnement, tel que décrit précédemment. Le système d'actionnement est monté mobile dans la cloche, sur le plateau supérieur 42. Le cylindre d'actionnement est monté coulissant sur au moins une tige 47 de guidage verticale, de préférence au moins deux tiges de guidage, fixées sur le plateau supérieur et s'étendant dans la cloche parallèlement à la jupe supérieure. Le cylindre 6 d'actionnement est muni d'une collerette au niveau de son ouverture supérieure, la tige passant dans un trou de ladite collerette 68 et étant munie à son extrémité libre d'une butée 47a. Le plateau 44 inférieur est muni d'une barre ou entretoise 48 verticale servant de butée au cylindre d'actionnement. The sterilization station is further equipped with an actuating cylinder 6, as previously described. The actuating system is mounted movably in the bell, on the upper plate 42. The actuating cylinder is slidably mounted on at least one vertical guide rod 47, preferably at least two guide rods, fixed on the upper plate and extending into the bell parallel to the upper skirt. The actuating cylinder 6 is provided with a flange at its upper opening, the rod passing through a hole of said flange 68 and being provided at its end. free of a stop 47a. The bottom plate 44 is provided with a vertical bar or spacer 48 serving as a stop for the actuating cylinder.
En référence à la figure 4A, dans la position rétractée haute du plateau supérieur, le bord libre annulaire de la cloche est disposé au dessus du plateau inférieur, de sorte qu'un récipient R puisse être amené sur ledit plateau inférieur, sous l'émetteur et sous la cloche. Le cylindre d'actionnement est en butée contre la butée 47a. L'extrémité distale de la buse est par exemple disposée dans le cylindre d'actionnement, au- dessus du bord 66 supérieur.  With reference to FIG. 4A, in the retracted high position of the upper plate, the annular free edge of the bell is disposed above the lower plate, so that a container R can be brought on said lower plate, under the transmitter and under the bell. The actuating cylinder is in abutment against the stop 47a. The distal end of the nozzle is for example disposed in the actuating cylinder, above the upper edge 66.
Pour l'opération de stérilisation d'un récipient, le plateau 42 supérieur est déplacé en translation verticale vers le bas, via les moyens 43 de déplacement, vers une première position active, illustrée à la figure 4C. Lors de ce déplacement, le cylindre d'actionnement vient contre le levier du bouchon, tel qu'illustré à la figure 4B, et déplace le couvercle vers sa position ouverte. Dans la première position active de la figure 4C, le cylindre d'actionnement est dans la position illustrée à la figure 3C, et est en appui par sa collerette 68 contre la butée 47a et contre l'extrémité libre de l'entretoise 48. La cloche vient recouvrir le récipient R, la jupe 46 inférieure de la partie inférieure coulissant dans la jupe 45 supérieure de la cloche. L'émetteur 41 et son antenne 411 sont disposés au dessus de l'ouverture du récipient. Le plateau 42 supérieur et la jupe 45 supérieure formant la cloche, ainsi que le plateau 44 inférieur munie de sa jupe 46 inférieure, sont réalisés à base de plomb, et forment ensemble dans cette première position active une enceinte E de protection. Dans cette première position active, l'émetteur 41 peut être activé afin d'irradier la paroi externe du récipient et le bouchon. La jupe 45 supérieure et la jupe inférieure se chevauchent sur une hauteur suffisante pour empêcher les rayonnements de sortir de l'enceinte E.  For the sterilization operation of a container, the top plate 42 is moved in vertical translation downwards, via the displacement means 43, to a first active position, illustrated in FIG. 4C. During this movement, the actuating cylinder comes against the lever of the plug, as shown in Figure 4B, and moves the cover to its open position. In the first active position of FIG. 4C, the actuating cylinder is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3C, and is supported by its flange 68 against the abutment 47a and against the free end of the spacer 48. bell comes to cover the container R, the lower skirt 46 of the lower part sliding in the upper skirt 45 of the bell. The transmitter 41 and its antenna 411 are arranged above the opening of the container. The upper plate 42 and the upper skirt 45 forming the bell, and the lower plate 44 provided with its lower skirt 46, are made of lead, and together form in this first active position a protective enclosure E. In this first active position, the transmitter 41 can be activated to irradiate the outer wall of the container and the cap. The upper skirt 45 and the lower skirt overlap to a height sufficient to prevent radiation from exiting the enclosure E.
Le plateau 4 supérieur est ensuite déplacé davantage vers le bas, via les moyens 43 de déplacement, jusqu'à la position active extrême illustrée à la figure 4E, afin d'irradier l'ensemble de la paroi interne du récipient. Lors de ce déplacement, la jupe 46 inférieure de la partie inférieure coulisse dans la jupe 45 supérieure de la cloche. La longueur de la buse 411 et la hauteur de la jupe 45 supérieure sont adaptées, de sorte que l'extrémité distale de la buse soit disposée à proximité du fond du récipient R dans la position active extrême. Par ailleurs, lors de ce déplacement, la collerette 68 en butée contre l'entretoise coulisse le long de la tige 47 de guidage, de sorte que le cylindre d'actionnement garde la même position par rapport au récipient, pour maintenir le couvercle du bouchon en position ouverte. La figure 4D illustre une position intermédiaire du plateau entre la première position active et la position extrême. The top plate 4 is then moved further downwards, via the displacement means 43, to the extreme active position illustrated in FIG. 4E, in order to irradiate the whole of the inner wall of the container. During this movement, the lower skirt 46 of the lower part slides in the upper skirt 45 of the bell. The length of the nozzle 411 and the height of the upper skirt 45 are adapted, so that the distal end of the nozzle is disposed near the bottom of the container R in the extreme active position. Furthermore, during this movement, the flange 68 abuts against the spacer slides along the guide rod 47, so that the actuating cylinder keeps the same position relative to the container, to maintain the lid of the cap in open position. FIG. 4D illustrates an intermediate position of the plate between the first active position and the extreme position.
Le plateau 42 supérieur est alors ramené progressivement vers sa première position active illustrée à la figure 4C. L'irradiation est alors stoppée, et le plateau 4 supérieur est ramené dans sa position rétractée illustrée à la figure 4A. Lors de ce déplacement le couvercle est ramené par le cylindre d'actionnement dans sa position fermée. Le convoyeur 10 est alors activé pour évacuer le récipient traité et le transférer vers le poste de remplissage, et pour amener un nouveau récipient à traiter sous l'émetteur.  The upper plate 42 is then progressively brought back to its first active position illustrated in FIG. 4C. The irradiation is then stopped, and the upper plate 4 is returned to its retracted position illustrated in FIG. 4A. During this movement, the lid is brought back by the actuating cylinder into its closed position. The conveyor 10 is then activated to evacuate the treated container and transfer it to the filling station, and to bring a new container to be treated under the transmitter.
Le poste de stérilisation comprend de préférence des moyens d'injection pour l'injection d'un produit dans l'enceinte, afin de chasser l'ozone généré lors de la stérilisation par faisceau d'électrons, et des moyens d'évacuation pour l'évacuation de gaz hors de l'enceinte. Le poste comprend une tubulure ou canule 49 d'injection montée fixe dans la cloche. Cette canule s'étend parallèlement à l'antenne de l'émetteur, l'extrémité distale de la canule étant disposée sensiblement au même niveau que l'extrémité distale de l'antenne. Cette canule traverse de manière sensiblement étanche le plateau 42 supérieur de la cloche. La canule est utilisée pour injecter dans le récipient R un gaz neutre, tel que de l'azote, immédiatement après l'irradiation, par exemple lorsque le plateau 4 supérieur est dans sa première position active, afin de créer une surpression dans le récipient R et ainsi expulser hors du récipient l'ozone généré par l'irradiation. En variante, l'injection de gaz neutre est également réalisée lors de l'irradiation, par exemple lorsque le plateau supérieur est déplacé de sa position active extrême vers sa première position active. En variante, la canule est utilisée pour délivrer dans le récipient R de l'azote liquide, par exemple une goutte d'azote liquide, pendant et/ou juste après l'irradiation, l'azote liquide passant en phase gazeuse remplit alors progressivement le récipient et chasse progressivement l'ozone hors du récipient. Le plateau supérieur est muni de trous 50 d'évent débouchant dans l'enceinte E pour éviter une surpression à l'intérieur de l'enceinte. Ces trous d'évents servent à évacuer le gaz qui est contenu dans l'enceinte et qui est comprimé lors de la descente du plateau supérieur jusqu'à sa position active extrême. Par ailleurs, ces trous d'évent servent à évacuer l'ozone généré dans le récipient par l'irradiation et repoussé à l'extérieur du récipient R par l'azote injecté. Un système 51 de chicane, réalisé en plomb, est prévu sur la face inférieure du plateau supérieur pour faire écran aux rayons X générés lors de l'irradiation, et ainsi éviter toute propagation de rayonnement hors de l'enceinte par lesdits trous d'évent. Les trous d'évent sont connectés à des canalisations flexibles, mises en dépression, afin d'aspirer le gaz comprimé par le déplacement relatif de la cloche et de la partie inférieure, et notamment l'ozone généré par l'irradiation. The sterilization station preferably comprises injection means for injecting a product into the chamber, in order to expel the ozone generated during the sterilization by electron beam, and evacuation means for the evacuation of gas from the enclosure. The station comprises a tubing or injection cannula 49 fixedly mounted in the bell. This cannula extends parallel to the antenna of the transmitter, the distal end of the cannula being disposed substantially at the same level as the distal end of the antenna. This cannula substantially substantially crosses the top plate 42 of the bell. The cannula is used to inject into the container R a neutral gas, such as nitrogen, immediately after the irradiation, for example when the upper plate 4 is in its first active position, in order to create an overpressure in the container R and thus expel out of the container the ozone generated by the irradiation. Alternatively, the injection of neutral gas is also performed during irradiation, for example when the upper plate is moved from its extreme active position to its first active position. Alternatively, the cannula is used to deliver liquid nitrogen to the container R, for example a drop of liquid nitrogen, during and / or just after the irradiation, the liquid nitrogen passing in the gas phase then progressively fills the container and gradually flush the ozone out of the container. The upper plate is provided with vent holes 50 opening into the enclosure E to prevent overpressure inside the enclosure. These vent holes serve to evacuate the gas that is contained in the chamber and is compressed during the descent of the upper plate to its extreme active position. Moreover, these vent holes are used to evacuate the ozone generated in the container by the irradiation and pushed outside the container R by the injected nitrogen. A baffle system 51, made of lead, is provided on the lower face of the upper plate to screen the X-rays generated during the irradiation, and thus prevent any propagation of radiation outside the chamber by said vent holes . The vent holes are connected to flexible pipes, put under vacuum, to suck the compressed gas by the relative movement of the bell and the lower part, including the ozone generated by the irradiation.
Avantageusement, un système 52 de chicanes, réalisé également en plomb, est prévu pour éviter toute propagation de rayonnement au niveau de l'interface entre la partie supérieure et la partie inférieure du système de protection, plus précisément à l'interface entre la paroi 45 tubulaire supérieure de la cloche, et la paroi 46 tubulaire inférieure. Le système 52 de chicane comprend un rebord 52a annulaire horizontal s'étendant vers l'extérieur depuis le bord libre de la paroi 46 tubulaire inférieure, et se prolongeant par une paroi 52b annulaire verticale, qui s'étend vers le haut parallèlement à la paroi tubulaire inférieure, sensiblement jusqu'au plateau 44 inférieur. Cette paroi 52b annulaire forme avec la paroi 46 tubulaire inférieure un logement 53 annulaire dans lequel coulisse la paroi 45 tubulaire supérieure de la cloche lors du déplacement relatif de la cloche par rapport au plateau 44 inférieur.  Advantageously, a system 52 of baffles, also made of lead, is provided to prevent any propagation of radiation at the interface between the upper part and the lower part of the protection system, more precisely at the interface between the wall 45. tubular upper of the bell, and the lower tubular wall 46. The baffle system 52 includes a horizontal annular flange 52a extending outwardly from the free edge of the lower tubular wall 46, and extending through a vertical annular wall 52b, which extends upwardly parallel to the wall. lower tubular, substantially to the lower plate 44. This annular wall 52b forms with the lower tubular wall 46 an annular housing 53 in which slides the upper tubular wall 45 of the bell during the relative movement of the bell relative to the lower plate 44.
Le poste de remplissage par exemple de type pondéral, permet le remplissage des récipients stérilisés avec une quantité déterminée de produit de remplissage, le produit de remplissage étant liquide ou visqueux, par exemple un produit liquide tel que de l'eau, du lait ou du jus de fruit. Les figures 5A et 5B sont deux vues schématiques de côté, à 90° l'une de l'autre, du poste de remplissage. Le poste 7 de remplissage comprend des moyens de remplissage comportant une canule 71 de remplissage, d'axe C, et des moyens 72 de support pour supporter un récipient équipé d'un bouchon à couvercle sous ladite canule de remplissage. Des premiers moyens 73 de déplacement permettent un déplacement relatif en translation verticale de la canule par rapport aux moyens support, tel qu'illustré par la flèche F3, entre une position haute dans laquelle la canule est disposée au dessus du récipient, et une position basse dans laquelle la canule pénètre dans le récipient. Dans le mode de réalisation illustré, lesdits premiers moyens 73 de déplacement agissent sur ladite canule, les moyens de support étant montés fixes sur le châssis du dispositif. The filling station, for example of the weight type, makes it possible to fill the sterilized containers with a determined quantity of filling product, the filling product being liquid or viscous, for example a liquid product such as water, milk or water. fruit juice. FIGS. 5A and 5B are two schematic side views, at 90 ° to one another, of the filling station. The filling station 7 comprises filling means comprising a filling cannula 71 of axis C and means 72 for supporting a container equipped with a lid cap under said cannula. filling. First displacement means 73 allow a relative displacement in vertical translation of the cannula relative to the support means, as illustrated by the arrow F3, between a high position in which the cannula is disposed above the container, and a low position. in which the cannula enters the container. In the illustrated embodiment, said first displacement means 73 act on said cannula, the support means being fixedly mounted on the frame of the device.
Le poste de remplissage est également équipé d'un cylindre 6 d'actionnement permettant l'ouverture du couvercle juste avant le remplissage et la fermeture du couvercle juste après le remplissage. Le cylindre d'actionnement, centré selon l'axe C de la canule, est monté mobile sur le châssis du dispositif via des seconds moyens 74 de déplacement. Le cylindre d'actionnement est équipé d'une tige 741 de commande, montée sur la collerette et munie à son extrémité libre d'un galet qui coopère avec une came 743 mécanique pour déplacer en translation verticale le cylindre, tel qu'illustré par la flèche F4, entre une position haute illustrée aux figures 5 A et 5B, dans laquelle le cylindre 42 d'actionnement est disposé au dessus du bouchon d'un récipient supporté par les moyens 72 de support, et une position basse illustrée à la figure 5C, correspondant à la position de la figure 3C.  The filling station is also equipped with an actuating cylinder 6 for opening the lid just before filling and closing the lid just after filling. The actuating cylinder, centered along the axis C of the cannula, is movably mounted on the frame of the device via second displacement means 74. The actuating cylinder is equipped with a control rod 741, mounted on the flange and provided at its free end with a roller which cooperates with a mechanical cam 743 to move the cylinder in vertical translation, as illustrated by FIG. arrow F4, between a high position illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in which the actuating cylinder 42 is disposed above the cap of a container supported by the support means 72, and a low position illustrated in FIG. 5C , corresponding to the position of Figure 3C.
Le cylindre peut être déplacé vers le haut de sa position basse vers une position basse intermédiaire illustrée à la figure 3D, correspondant à la position illustrée à la figure 5D, dans laquelle le levier n'est plus en contact avec le cylindre. Cette position basse intermédiaire est particulièrement avantageuse dans le cas d'un dosage pondéral pour le remplissage des récipients.  The cylinder can be moved upwards from its low position to an intermediate low position illustrated in FIG. 3D, corresponding to the position illustrated in FIG. 5D, in which the lever is no longer in contact with the cylinder. This intermediate low position is particularly advantageous in the case of a weight distribution for filling the containers.
Dans le cas de bouchons munis de charnières qui sont à effet ressort dans le sens de l'ouverture, les seconds moyens 74 de déplacement peuvent être prévus pour passer directement de la position haute à la position basse intermédiaire de la figure 5D, sans passer par la position basse de la figure 5C. Dans cette position ouverte du couvercle, la canule, qui est en position haute, au dessus du couvercle, peut être déplacée dans sa position basse pour effectuer l'opération de remplissage. A l'issue du remplissage, la canule est déplacée en position haute, puis le cylindre peut être déplacé en position haute pour ramener le couvercle en position fermée. In the case of plugs having hinges which are spring-loaded in the opening direction, the second displacement means 74 may be provided to go directly from the high position to the intermediate low position of FIG. 5D, without going through the lower position of Figure 5C. In this open position of the lid, the cannula, which is in the upper position, above the lid, can be moved to its lower position to perform the filling operation. After filling, the cannula is moved into position high, then the cylinder can be moved to the high position to return the lid to the closed position.
Le poste 8 de thermo-soudure comprend des moyens de chauffage pour chauffer le matériau de fixation du bouchon lorsque le couvercle est en position fermée, afin de thermo-souder le couvercle et l'embase. Le poste de thermo-soudure comprend par exemple des moyens de soudure par ultrasons, afin de minimiser réchauffement du matériau plastique constitutif du bouchon.  The heat-sealing station 8 comprises heating means for heating the plug fixing material when the lid is in the closed position, in order to heat-seal the lid and the base. The thermo-welding station comprises, for example, ultrasonic welding means, in order to minimize heating of the plastic material constituting the plug.
Le poste 9 d'arasage permet de couper le levier 34 à sa base, le levier étant par exemple arasé par rotation du récipient contre une lame tranchante plane, montée fixe sur le châssis du dispositif.  The leveling station 9 makes it possible to cut the lever 34 at its base, the lever being for example leveled by rotation of the container against a flat cutting blade fixedly mounted on the frame of the device.
Le traitement d'un récipient par le dispositif selon l'invention est le suivant. Le récipient vide est transféré au poste 2 d'assemblage où un bouchon avec son couvercle en position fermée est assemblé par vissage sur le col du récipient. Le récipient est alors transféré avec son couvercle en position fermée vers le poste 4 de stérilisation. Au poste de stérilisation, le plateau 42 supérieur est déplacé pour manœuvrer le couvercle en position ouverte via le cylindre d'actionnement, introduire la buse 411 de l'émetteur dans le récipient, puis ressortir la buse du récipient, et manœuvrer le couvercle vers sa position fermée.  The treatment of a container by the device according to the invention is as follows. The empty container is transferred to the assembly station 2 where a cap with its lid in the closed position is assembled by screwing on the neck of the container. The container is then transferred with its cover in the closed position to the sterilization station 4. At the sterilization station, the top plate 42 is moved to maneuver the lid in the open position via the actuating cylinder, introduce the nozzle 411 of the emitter into the container, then remove the nozzle from the container, and maneuver the lid towards its position. closed position.
Le récipient stérilisé avec le couvercle en position fermée est ensuite transféré vers le poste 7 de remplissage où le cylindre 6 d'actionnement dudit poste et la canule 71 sont déplacés via leur moyens de déplacement respectifs pour manœuvrer le couvercle vers sa position ouverte, introduire la canule dans le récipient pour le remplissage, retirer la canule du récipient puis manœuvrer le couvercle vers sa position fermée. Le récipient est ensuite transféré avec son couvercle en position fermée vers le poste 8 de thermo-soudure pour la fermeture définitive du bouchon, en thermo-soudant le couvercle sur l'embase, puis le récipient est transféré vers le poste 9 d'arasage pour le retrait du levier 44.  The container sterilized with the lid in the closed position is then transferred to the filling station 7 where the actuating cylinder 6 of said station and the cannula 71 are moved via their respective displacement means to maneuver the lid to its open position, introduce the cannula into the container for filling, remove the cannula from the container and then maneuver the lid to its closed position. The container is then transferred with its cover in the closed position to the heat-sealing station 8 for the final closure of the plug, by heat-sealing the cover on the base, then the container is transferred to the station 9 of shaving for the removal of the lever 44.
Le couvercle est ainsi refermé juste après l'opération de stérilisation, ouvert juste avant l'opération de remplissage et refermé juste après l'opération de remplissage, ce qui empêche toute éventuelle contamination de l'intérieur du récipient au niveau du poste de stérilisation et du poste de remplissage. Lors du transfert du récipient du poste de stérilisation vers le poste de remplissage, puis du poste de remplissage vers le poste de thermo-soudure, le couvercle est en position fermée ce qui empêche toute éventuelle contamination lors de ces deux phases de transferts. Le dispositif selon l'invention permet ainsi le remplissage stérile de différents récipients à un niveau de stérilisation très élevé, de l'ordre de Log6. The lid is thus closed just after the sterilization operation, opened just before the filling operation and closed again just after the filling operation, which prevents any possible contamination of the inside of the container at the sterilization station and filling station. When transferring the container from the sterilization station to the filling station, then from the filling to the thermo-welding station, the lid is in the closed position which prevents any possible contamination during these two transfer phases. The device according to the invention thus allows the sterile filling of different containers at a very high level of sterilization, of the order of Log6.
L'utilisation d'un bouchon à couvercle selon l'invention permet d'utiliser des récipients à large ouverture supérieure, autorisant au poste de remplissage le passage de deux canules de remplissage dans le récipient. Selon un mode de réalisation, le récipient est rempli au moyen de deux canules parallèles qui s'insèrent dans le récipient et qui sont utilisées pour délivrer des produits différents. Une première canule est utilisée pour délivrer par exemple un liquide, tel qu'un jus de fruit, l'autre canule étant utilisée pour délivrer de la pulpe et/ou des vitamines par exemple.  The use of a lid cap according to the invention makes it possible to use containers with a large upper opening, allowing the filling station to pass two filling cannulas into the container. According to one embodiment, the container is filled by means of two parallel cannulas which fit into the container and which are used to deliver different products. A first cannula is used to deliver for example a liquid, such as a fruit juice, the other cannula being used to deliver pulp and / or vitamins for example.
Le dispositif de type linéaire décrit en référence aux figures peut bien entendu comprendre plusieurs lignes de traitement parallèles, chaque ligne de traitement comprenant un ou plusieurs postes de d'assemblage, postes de stérilisation, postes de remplissage, postes de thermosoudure et postes d'arasage.  The linear type device described with reference to the figures can of course comprise several parallel treatment lines, each treatment line comprising one or more assembly stations, sterilization stations, filling stations, heat sealing stations and shaving stations. .
Le dispositif de traitement selon l'invention peut également être de type rotatif, le dispositif de traitement comprenant un premier carrousel ou tourelle pour réaliser l'assemblage du bouchon, en particulier le vissage du bouchon, un second carrousel pour réaliser la stérilisation, un troisième carrousel pour effectuer le remplissage desdits récipients stérilisés avec un produit de remplissage, un quatrième carrousel pour la thermo-soudure, et un cinquième carrousel pour effectuer l'arasage du levier. Des systèmes de transfert, par exemple de type étoiles de transfert, sont prévus entre deux carrousels successifs pour transférer les récipients.  The treatment device according to the invention may also be of the rotary type, the treatment device comprising a first carousel or turret for assembling the stopper, in particular screwing the stopper, a second carousel for carrying out the sterilization, a third carousel for filling said sterilized containers with a filler, a fourth carousel for thermo-welding, and a fifth carousel for effecting the shaving of the lever. Transfer systems, for example of the transfer star type, are provided between two successive carousels to transfer the containers.
Le carrousel de stérilisation comporte un plateau support ou plateau supérieur, sous la forme d'une plaque circulaire ou annulaire, destiné à être monté tournant sur un bâti fixe autour d'un axe de rotation vertical. Le plateau support porte une pluralité de postes de traitement disposés à espace angulaire régulier autour de l'axe de rotation. Chaque poste comprend un émetteur monté sur la face inférieure du plateau. La partie supérieure du système de protection est constituée par le plateau support et une pluralité de jupes dite supérieures entourant les émetteurs et s'étendant depuis la face inférieure du plateau. Chaque jupe supérieure forme avec le plateau supérieur une cloche associée à un poste de traitement. Chaque poste comprend un cylindre d'actionnement monté dans la cloche tel que décrit précédemment. Les moyens de support de chaque poste de traitement comprennent une sellette ou plateau inférieur équipé d'une jupe inférieure et d'une entretoise servant de butée pour le cylindre d'actionnement. Chaque poste de traitement comprend des moyens de déplacement agissant cette fois-ci sur le plateau inférieur pour le déplacer entre une position écartée du plateau supérieur pour permettre le positionnement d'un récipient sur le plateau inférieur et le retrait d'un récipient du plateau inférieur, par exemple au moyen d'une étoile d'entrée et d'une étoile de sortie, et des positions actives, telles que décrites précédemment, dans lesquelles le plateau inférieur avec sa jupe supérieure forme avec la cloche supérieure une enceinte de protection. The sterilization carousel comprises a support plate or top plate, in the form of a circular or annular plate, intended to be rotatably mounted on a fixed frame about a vertical axis of rotation. The support plate carries a plurality of processing stations arranged at regular angular space around the axis of rotation. Each station includes a transmitter mounted on the underside of the tray. The upper part of the protection system consists of the plateau support and a plurality of so-called upper skirts surrounding the transmitters and extending from the underside of the tray. Each upper skirt forms with the upper plate a bell associated with a treatment station. Each station comprises an actuating cylinder mounted in the bell as previously described. The support means of each treatment station comprise a fifth wheel or lower plate equipped with a lower skirt and a spacer serving as a stop for the actuating cylinder. Each treatment station comprises displacement means acting this time on the lower plate to move it between a position spaced from the upper plate to allow the positioning of a container on the lower plate and the withdrawal of a container from the lower plate. , for example by means of an input star and an output star, and active positions, as described above, in which the lower plate with its upper skirt forms with the upper bell a protective enclosure.
Le carrousel de remplissage est du même type que le carrousel de stérilisation, il comporte un plateau support rotatif portant une pluralité de postes de traitement disposés à espace angulaire régulier, chaque poste de traitement comprenant des moyens de remplissage comportant un bec de remplissage ou une ou plusieurs canules de remplissage, un cylindre d'actionnement, et des moyens de support pour supporter un récipient sous ledit bec de remplissage.  The filling carousel is of the same type as the sterilization carousel, it comprises a rotatable support plate carrying a plurality of treatment stations arranged at regular angular space, each treatment station comprising filling means comprising a filling spout or one or a plurality of filling cannulas, an actuating cylinder, and support means for supporting a container under said filling spout.
Par ailleurs, selon un autre mode de réalisation, le dispositif de traitement comprend un carrousel de stérilisation du type décrit dans la demande de brevet français n° 0958648 déposée le 3/12/09, dont le système de protection comprend une goulotte. Selon un autre mode de réalisation, le dispositif de traitement comprend un carrousel dont les postes de traitement comprennent à la fois des moyens de stérilisation et des moyens de remplissage, tel que décrit dans la demande de brevet français n° 0958647, déposée le 3/12/09 par la demanderesse.  Furthermore, according to another embodiment, the treatment device comprises a sterilization carousel of the type described in the French patent application No. 0958648 filed on December 3, 2009, the protection system comprises a chute. According to another embodiment, the treatment device comprises a carousel whose treatment stations comprise both sterilization means and filling means, as described in the French patent application No. 0958647, filed on 3 / 12/09 by the plaintiff.
Selon un mode de réalisation, la stérilisation est réalisée de l'extérieur du récipient, par exemple par rayonnement gamma, avec le couvercle du bouchon en position fermée. Selon une variante de réalisation, le bouchon ne comprend pas de couche annulaire de matériau thermofusible, le couvercle est thermosoudé directement sur l'embase, par exemple par ultrasons. According to one embodiment, the sterilization is carried out from outside the container, for example by gamma radiation, with the lid of the cap in the closed position. According to an alternative embodiment, the plug does not comprise an annular layer of hot melt material, the lid is heat sealed directly on the base, for example by ultrasound.
Bien que l'invention ait été décrite en liaison avec un mode de réalisation particulier, il est bien évident qu'elle n'y est nullement limitée et qu'elle comprend tous les équivalents techniques des moyens décrits ainsi que leurs combinaisons si celles-ci entrent dans le cadre de l'invention.  Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé de traitement de récipients (R) caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend, pour chaque récipient à traiter, 1. A process for treating containers (R) characterized in that it comprises, for each container to be treated,
a) une étape d'assemblage pour l'assemblage d'un bouchon (3) à couvercle sur un récipient (R), ledit bouchon comprenant une embase (31) tubulaire et un couvercle (32) articulé sur ladite embase, au moyen d'une articulation (33), entre une position ouverte et une position fermée, ledit bouchon étant assemblé par son embase sur ledit récipient au niveau d'une ouverture dudit récipient,  a) an assembly step for assembling a cap (3) with a lid on a container (R), said cap comprising a tubular base (31) and a cover (32) articulated on said base, by means of a hinge (33), between an open position and a closed position, said plug being assembled by its base on said container at an opening of said container,
b) une étape de stérilisation du récipient équipé de son bouchon à couvercle,  b) a sterilization step of the container equipped with its lid cap,
c) une étape de remplissage du récipient, ladite étape de remplissage comprenant le remplissage du récipient en produit de remplissage, avec le couvercle de son bouchon en position ouverte, et la manœuvre du couvercle vers sa position fermée.  c) a step of filling the container, said filling step comprising filling the container with filling product, with the lid of its cap in the open position, and the operation of the lid towards its closed position.
2. Procédé de traitement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'étape c) de remplissage est suivie d'une étape d) de fixation, de manière étanche, du couvercle (32) dans sa position fermée sur l'embase (31).  2. Treatment process according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling step c) is followed by a step d) of fixing, in a sealed manner, the cover (32) in its closed position on the base ( 31).
3. Procédé de traitement selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite étape d) de fixation est réalisée par thermo-soudure du couvercle (32) sur l'embase (31).  3. Treatment process according to claim 2, characterized in that said fixing step d) is carried out by thermo-welding the cover (32) on the base (31).
4. Procédé de traitement selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que la stérilisation à l'étape b) de stérilisation est réalisée par un faisceau d'électrons généré par un émetteur (41) de faisceau d'électrons lorsque le couvercle (32) du bouchon (3) est en position ouverte.  4. Treatment method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sterilization in step b) of sterilization is performed by an electron beam generated by an emitter (41) of electron beam when the lid (32) of the plug (3) is in the open position.
5. Procédé de traitement selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ladite étape b) de stérilisation est réalisée par un émetteur (41) équipé d'une buse (411) tubulaire apte à délivrer par son extrémité distale le faisceau d'électrons créé par l'émetteur, ladite étape de stérilisation comprenant la manœuvre du couvercle (32) vers sa position ouverte, l'introduction de la buse (411) dans le récipient, et le retrait de la buse (411) hors du récipient. 5. Treatment process according to claim 4, characterized in that said sterilization step b) is carried out by a transmitter (41) equipped with a tubular nozzle (411) capable of delivering at its distal end the electron beam created. by the transmitter, said sterilizing step comprising operating the lid (32) to its open position, introducing the nozzle (411) into the container, and removing the nozzle (411) from the container.
6. Procédé de traitement selon la revendication 4 ou 5, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins deux étapes successives parmi les étapes a), b), c) et d) sont réalisées à des postes de traitement successifs différents, le couvercle du bouchon étant en position fermée entre deux postes de traitement successifs. 6. Treatment process according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that at least two successive steps among steps a), b), c) and d) are performed at different successive treatment stations, the cap lid being in the closed position between two successive processing stations.
7. Procédé de traitement selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que les étapes a), b), c) et d) sont réalisées à des postes de traitement différents, le bouchon (3) étant en position fermée lors du transfert du récipient (R) d'un poste à l'autre, l'étape de stérilisation comprenant la manœuvre du bouchon vers sa position fermée à l'issue de l'émission du faisceau d'électrons  7. Treatment process according to claim 6, characterized in that the steps a), b), c) and d) are performed at different treatment stations, the cap (3) being in the closed position during the transfer of the container (R) from one station to another, the sterilization step comprising the maneuvering of the plug towards its closed position at the end of the emission of the electron beam
8. Procédé de traitement selon l'une des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce que la manœuvre du couvercle (32) entre ses deux positions est réalisée par déplacement relatif d'un système (6) d'actionnement par rapport au bouchon (3), ledit système d'actionnement étant apte à coopérer avec au moins un organe (34) d'actionnement complémentaire du couvercle pour déplacer ce dernier entre ses deux positions.  8. Treatment process according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the operation of the cover (32) between its two positions is carried out by relative displacement of a system (6) of actuation relative to the plug ( 3), said actuating system being adapted to cooperate with at least one actuating member (34) complementary to the lid to move the latter between its two positions.
9. Procédé de traitement selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend, après l'étape de remplissage, une étape e) d'arasage dudit organe (34) d'actionnement.  9. Treatment process according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises, after the filling step, a step e) of shaving said actuating member (34).
10. Bouchon (3) à couvercle, pour la mise en œuvre du procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, ledit bouchon à couvercle comprenant une embase tubulaire (31), et un couvercle (32) articulé sur l'embase tubulaire, au moyen d'une articulation (33), entre une position fermée et une position ouverte, caractérisé en ce que ledit couvercle est apte à être thermosoudé en position fermée sur son embase.  10. Stopper (3) with lid, for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 9, said lid cap comprising a tubular base (31), and a cover (32) hinged to the tubular base , by means of a hinge (33), between a closed position and an open position, characterized in that said cover is adapted to be heat-sealed in the closed position on its base.
11. Bouchon à couvercle selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que l'embase, le couvercle et l'articulation sont formés d'une pièce monobloc en au moins un matériau plastique.  11. Lid cap according to claim 10, characterized in that the base, the cover and the hinge are formed of a single piece in at least one plastic material.
12. Bouchon à couvercle selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que ledit couvercle (32) est apte à être thermosoudé par ultrasons sur son embase (31).  12. Cap with lid according to claim 11, characterized in that said cover (32) is adapted to be thermally welded on its base (31).
13. Bouchon à couvercle selon l'une des revendications 10 à 12, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un levier d'actionnement (34) disposé sur le couvercle (32) du côté de l'articulation (33), pour manœuvrer ledit couvercle entre une position fermée du couvercle et une position ouverte. 13. A cap with lid according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that it comprises an actuating lever (34) disposed on the cover (32) on the hinge side (33), for operating said cover between a closed position of the cover and an open position.
14. Bouchon à couvercle selon l'une des revendications 10 à 13, caractérisé en ce que ledit couvercle (32) et/ou ladite embase (31) présente une couche annulaire (35) d'un matériau thermofusible pour la fixation par thermosoudure du couvercle sur son embase.  14. A cap with lid according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that said cover (32) and / or said base (31) has an annular layer (35) of a hot melt material for the heat-sealing attachment of the cover on its base.
15. Dispositif de traitement pour la mise en œuvre du procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un ou plusieurs de postes de traitement pour la stérilisation de récipients (R) par faisceau d'électrons et/ou le remplissage de récipients avec un liquide de remplissage, chaque poste de traitement comprenant  15. Processing device for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises one or more treatment stations for the sterilization of containers (R) by electron beam and / or filling containers with a filling liquid, each treatment station comprising
- des moyens de stérilisation qui comportent un émetteur (41) de faisceau d'électrons et/ou des moyens (71) de remplissage, et  sterilization means which comprise an electron beam emitter (41) and / or filling means (71), and
- des moyens (44, 72) de support pour supporter un récipient sous ledit émetteur et/ou sous lesdits moyens de remplissage,  support means (44, 72) for supporting a receptacle under said emitter and / or under said filling means,
chaque poste comprenant en outre un système (6) d'actionnement apte à coopérer avec un organe d'actionnement (34) du couvercle (32) d'un bouchon (3) à couvercle monté sur ledit récipient lors d'un déplacement relatif, en translation verticale, du dit système d'actionnement par rapport audit récipient porté par les moyens de support pour manœuvrer ledit couvercle entre une position fermée du couvercle et une position ouverte. each station further comprising an actuating system (6) adapted to cooperate with an actuating member (34) of the lid (32) of a cap (3) with lid mounted on said container during a relative movement, in vertical translation, said actuating system with respect to said container carried by the support means for operating said cover between a closed position of the cover and an open position.
EP11700006.7A 2010-01-06 2011-01-03 Method and device for processing containers and cap for such a container Active EP2521689B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1050063A FR2954935B1 (en) 2010-01-06 2010-01-06 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROCESSING CONTAINERS
PCT/EP2011/050039 WO2011083106A1 (en) 2010-01-06 2011-01-03 Method and device for processing containers

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Publication Number Publication Date
EP2521689A1 true EP2521689A1 (en) 2012-11-14
EP2521689B1 EP2521689B1 (en) 2014-04-16

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EP11700006.7A Active EP2521689B1 (en) 2010-01-06 2011-01-03 Method and device for processing containers and cap for such a container

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US (1) US9586801B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2521689B1 (en)
CN (1) CN102712452B (en)
FR (1) FR2954935B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2011083106A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2521689B1 (en) 2014-04-16
US9586801B2 (en) 2017-03-07
FR2954935A1 (en) 2011-07-08
FR2954935B1 (en) 2012-04-20
US20120279177A1 (en) 2012-11-08
CN102712452B (en) 2014-10-01
CN102712452A (en) 2012-10-03
WO2011083106A1 (en) 2011-07-14

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