GB1014014A - Improvements in or relating to methods and apparatus for aseptically filling bottlesor packages with sterile flowable substances and sealing them - Google Patents

Abstract

1,014,014. Filling bottles. UDEC Ltd. Feb. 12, 1964 [Jan. 21, 1963], No. 2566/63. Heading B8T. In an apparatus for aseptically filling bottles, the bottles pass successively through a sterilizing zone, a filling zone, and a capping or sealing zone, the bottles being isolated from the atmosphere throughout their travel. An endless chain, supported by wheels of which at least one is driven by a motor and having pockets in which the bottles are carried, moves step by step through a casing 10 so causing the bottles, which have been slid into the pockets from a tilting platform 32, to pass first over jets 41 where they are heated by sprays of warm liquid and then through a bath 13 containing cleansing liquid. This bath acts as a liquid seal so that when the bottles emerge on the side of a partition 17 away from the loading platform 32 they are in the isolated atmosphere since the space between the bath bottom and the casing is also filled with water. The up-ended bottles are then further sprayed by jets 34 before they pass into a bath 15 containing sterilizing liquid. After leaving the bath they are sprayed with sterile liquid from jets 39 and 40 to remove any clinging sterilizing liquid before being transferred to a conveyer 44 which moves the bottles through the filling and capping apparatus 11 and 54. The sterile liquid is rendered sterile by being pumped through an exchanger where it is first heated to approximately 300‹ F. and then cooled to about 160‹ F., the heated liquid passing to the jets 39 and 40 and the liquid then collected beneath the jets being pumped and mixed with a supply of cooling water and sprayed from jets 41, some being used to fill a liquid seal 45 through which the capped and filled bottles pass to the atmosphere. The jets are rendered operative when the chain is stationary by means of a valve mechanism operated by pneumatic motors which themselves have valves controlled by cam mechanism driven by the motor which drives the chain. Fenders are provided on the stretches of the chain in which the bottles are upright. Steam heaters 48 and 49 may be immersed in the baths, and drip sills may be provided on the roof of the casing to direct condensation clear of the bottles. The walls of the casing may be provided with openings sealed by flexible gloves enabling an operator to carry out operations within the casing. A liquid trap may be provided in the filling and capping zones through which broken bottles may be removed. A shoot may be provided for feeding sterilized caps successively to a number of press tools mounted on a rotatable head and embodying a reciprocable plunger which is associated with means for holding the caps in position. The cleansing liquid may comprise a caustic alkali, and the sterilizing liquid a caustic alkali mixed with a sterilizing agent.