JP2001171791A - Apparatus for closing a container filled with filling with a closure tap - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A closure device (12) arranged in a casing (10) of a packaging machine serves for closing a syringe body (1) by a closure plug (4). The closing device 12 includes a vacuum device 13;
A supply device 37 for the closure tap 4 and a push-in tappet 48
And a vacuum / guiding device 45. A collecting block 67 is provided so that the closing device 12 and the part of the vacuum device 13 can be cleaned or sterilized before operation or after production interruption. This collective block can be connected to the vacuum tool 13. Further, a vacuum conduit 31 can be connected to a source of cleaning or sterilizing media 63, 64, 65. The cleaning or sterilization of the vacuum device and the part of the piping arrangement for the vacuum device is possible without having to remove said part for that purpose.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for closing a container filled with a filling material by a stopper, and a first device for sealing the upper portion of the container and for evacuating the container head chamber. A vacuum device is provided, the vacuum device is connected to a vacuum source via a vacuum conduit, a guide device for a stopper is provided above the container, and the stopper is placed inside the container. To a type provided with an introduction device for introduction into the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art In such a device, the need arises to clean and sterilize the vacuum device used to evacuate the container head chamber and the supply conduit for the vacuum device. This is necessary because during operation of the apparatus, it is inevitable that parts of the vacuum system and the piping arrangements associated with the vacuum system come into contact with the product to be filled. In particular, if the device is constructed with the so-called insulator technology, the cleaning of these device components is extremely uneconomical, since the device components that come into contact with the product must conventionally be partly removable. is there.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide for the cleaning or sterilization of a vacuum device and parts of the piping arrangement for the vacuum device without having to remove said parts for that purpose. A further object is to improve a device of the type described at the outset.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a vacuum conduit is provided for cleaning and sterilizing a first vacuum device and a portion of the vacuum conduit according to the present invention. A first vacuum device can be connected to the discharge device for the cleaning or sterilizing medium, so that the flow path for the cleaning or sterilizing medium is The problem is solved by being formed by the conduit portion and the first vacuum device.

[0005] Advantageous configurations of the invention are set out in the further claims. With the configuration according to claim 2, it is possible to clean and sterilize the push-in tappet in cooperation with the closure tap. With the configuration according to claim 3, a particularly good cleaning or sterilization of the push-in tappet is obtained. In the configuration according to claim 4,
The transfer of the closure into the container during the original operation of the device, at least partly during its pushing, does not take place depending on the air pressure acting on the opposite sides of the closure, but rather by the movement of the push-in tappet. Performed purely mechanically. With the configuration according to claim 5, cleaning or sterilization of the additional vacuum tool is possible.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a container 1, which is closed on one side by a cap 2 or the like, for example, a syringe body (FIG. 2).
2 shows a casing of a packaging machine which is used for filling and closing of the packing machine. In the inner chamber 11 of the casing 10, sterile filling conditions are maintained in order to prevent contamination of the filling material, especially liquid medicine. This type of construction is generally described as the so-called insulator technology, in which a device is provided for passing a syringe body through a lock gate through a packaging machine and a processing station. The filling station required for filling the syringe body 1 is as follows:
It is not shown in FIG. 1 because it is not important to the invention.

What is important is the construction of the closure device 12, the structure of which can be seen in particular from FIGS. The closing device 12 comprises a plate-shaped vacuum tool 13 which can be moved up and down as a first vacuum device, which has three main components. These main components are a central middle part 16 and a format dependent lower part 17.
And an upper part 18 depending on the format, the lower part 17 and the upper part 18 being inserted or screwed into the openings 14, 15 of the intermediate part 16. The sleeve-shaped lower part 17 and upper part 18 each have one through-hole 19, 21, whose diameter corresponds at most to the inner diameter of the syringe body 1. Furthermore, the lower part 17 and the upper part 18 are sealed against the intermediate part 16 by a first sealing ring 22.

A sleeve-like packing 23 is inserted into the lower part 17 on the lower side facing the syringe body 1, and this packing is used when the lower part 17 contacts the flange 3 of the syringe body 1. In cooperation with the notch 24 adapted to this flange 3, the inner chamber 5 of the syringe body 1 received in the support device 25 is sealed to the outside. A lateral hole 26 is arranged in the intermediate part 16 corresponding to each syringe body 1 and opens into the annular chamber 27. What is important in this case is that the lower portion 17 and the upper portion 18 are formed such that an annular gap 28 or a through passage is formed from the annular chamber 27 toward the syringe body 1.

A plurality of lower portions 17 and an upper portion 18 are respectively disposed in the intermediate portion 16, and in the illustrated embodiment, each of the lower portion 17 and the upper portion
The lower part 17 and the upper part 18 of 12 are arranged in a row, that is, inserted one behind the other as viewed in the transport direction of the syringe body 1. The number of lower part 17 and upper part 18 is then
It corresponds to the number of syringe bodies 1 that are filled and closed in the packaging machine for each transport cycle.

Each transverse hole 26 is provided with a first distribution conduit 32.
And a supply conduit 31 connected to a vacuum source 30, in which case a main shut-off valve 33 is provided in the supply conduit 31 and branches off from the distribution conduit 32 to form a lateral hole 26.
In each of the short branch conduits 34 connected to are connected one shut-off valve 35.

A closure plug (hereinafter referred to as a syringe plug) 4 can be disposed above the vacuum tool 13. A vertically movable and horizontally pivotable supply device 37 has a support plate 38 in which, depending on the number and the arrangement of the lower part 17 and the upper part 18, the format depends. A through-hole 39 for receiving the hollow cylindrical syringe stopper carrier 40 is formed. Each syringe stopper carrier 40
Has a through-hole 41 formed conically in the upper region for receiving a syringe plug 4, the diameter of the cylindrical section of this through-hole 41 being the syringe plug. 4 are dimensioned to be held in this through-hole 41 by clamping. The lower side of the syringe stopper carrier 40 cooperates with a seal ring 42 arranged above the upper part 18 when lowered. Insert the syringe stopper 4 into the through hole 41
For its insertion, the supply device 37 can be moved or swiveled into one position on the side of the vacuum tool 13, at which position the syringe plug 4 is pushed into the through hole 41 in a known manner.

Alternatively, the support 38 can be formed as a disk having a vertically extending axis of rotation. In this case, two displaced groups of through-holes 39 with syringe stopper carriers 40 are arranged, so that one group of syringe stopper carriers 40 is aligned with the vacuum tool 13. In this position, a new syringe stopper 4 for the next syringe body 1 to be closed can be brought into the other group of syringe stopper carriers 40 at the same time.

Above the supply device 37, a vacuum / guide tool 45 is disposed as a second vacuum device.
The guide tool can likewise be moved up and down and run horizontally. In the vacuum and guide tool 45, for each syringe plug 4, a push tappet 48 guided by two bearing packings 47 is arranged in a vertical through-hole 46. The push-in tappet 48 can be moved up and down by means not shown, but preferably by means of mechanical actuation. Since the through hole 46 has a diameter slightly larger than that of the pushing tappet 48, an annular gap 49 is formed between the through hole 46 and the pushing tappet 48. In the annular gap 49, another lateral hole 51 is opened which is connected to the supply conduit 31 via a branch conduit 52 having a shut-off valve 53 and a distribution conduit 54. Also connected to a vacuum source 30 as is well known.

The components of the apparatus described above are necessary for closing the syringe body 1 with a syringe stopper. Before the start of the production or after the production is interrupted, the closing device 12 is provided so that the vacuum tool 13, possibly the support plate 38, the vacuum and guide tool 45, the parts of the vacuum device and the part of the push-in tappet 48 can be cleaned or sterilized. Is specially operated.

In the supply line 31, at the branch 55, a washing or sterilizing line 56 opens via a shut-off valve 57, which shuts off the distributor 58 and the further shut-off valve 5.
9, 60, 61, for example, a cleaning and sterilizing medium source 63,
It can be connected to a sterile air source 64 and a steam source 65. Furthermore, a collecting block 67 is provided, which is connected via a discharge conduit 68 to a discharge container 69. In the cleaning or sterile position of the closing device 12, instead of the support device 25 for the syringe body 1, a collectively movable block 67 is provided (FIG. 1). For this purpose, a vertical hole 70 for the push-in tappet 48 is formed in the collecting block 67, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the push-in tappet 48. Further, the depth of the hole 70 is larger than the maximum descending stroke of the pushing tappet 48. A short collecting conduit 71 branches off from the bottom of the hole 70, and this collecting conduit 71
It is connected to the. Hole 70 parallel to collecting conduit 71
A short conduit 72 is open therein, which is connected to the supply conduit 31 via a bypass conduit 73 provided with a bypass valve 74. In this case, the bypass conduit 73 is connected to the packing 23 and the notch 2 with the vacuum tool 13 lowered.
The hole 70 just below the inlet piece 75 in sealing contact with
(See FIG. 9).

Next, for example, the function of the closure device 12 to be cleaned or sterilized before starting operation is shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the cleaning or sterile position of the closure device 12, the vacuum and guide tool 45, optionally the support plate 38, the vacuum tool 13 and the collecting block 67, are aligned with each other and vertically oriented such that the individual components are sealed together. To make them run facing each other.

However, instead of the support plate 38, the support plate 3
A so-called adapter plate connected in the same manner as 8 can also be used. This is significant when the support plate 38 is formed in a disk shape having a plurality of groups of through holes 39 as described above. If an adapter plate is used, the through-holes 39 forming the various groups of the support plate 38 are removed in comparison to the case where each component is aligned with another component and these components are again cleaned or sterilized. And a washing or sterilization station for the support plate 38 located outside the casing 10 may be considered economical in some cases.

However, a separate adapter plate is not used in the embodiment shown. Furthermore, it is necessary to bring the push-in tappet 48 to its fully lowered position for cleaning or sterilization, at which point the push-in tappet protrudes into the hole 70 of the collecting block 67 (see FIG. 9).
Further, the main shutoff valve 33 communicating with the vacuum source 10 is closed,
The shutoff valves 35, 53, 57 and the bypass valve 74 are opened.

In the first cleaning step of the closing device 12, the shut-off valves 60, 61 are closed and the shut-off valve 59 is opened, so that the cleaning medium (eg water or other medium such as hydrogen peroxide) is cleaned. From the media source 63 it reaches the cleaning and sterilization conduit 56. From there, the cleaning medium flows via the branch 55 to the main shut-off valve 33 in the vacuum conduit 31 and into the branch conduit 32 and then into the vacuum device 13 via the branch conduit 34 and the transverse hole 26. . The cleaning medium flows through the vacuum device 13, whereby the respective annular chamber 27 and the annular gap 28
And into the bore 19 and then flows around the push tappet section located in the bore 19. In that case, in order to obtain good cleaning properties, basically (this also applies to the components described below), the components that come into contact with the cleaning medium are undercut in the flow direction of the cleaning medium. It must be formed so that there is no.

Next, the cleaning medium reaches the collecting block 67, from which the cleaning medium reaches the discharging container 69 via the collecting conduit 71 and the discharging conduit 68. A second flow path for the cleaning medium leads via the distribution conduit 54 and the branch conduit 52 to the lateral bore 51 of the vacuum and guide tool 45. From there the cleaning medium flows around the respective indentation tappet 48 via the annular gap 49 and then through the through holes 41 in the support plate 38 and also through the upper part 18 into the vacuum tool 13, and then Similarly, flow through the vacuum tool.

The collective block 67 of the pushing tappet 48
A third channel for the cleaning medium is formed in such a way that the section projecting into the hole 70 of this also makes good contact with the cleaning medium. This third flow path is guided into the hole 70 of the collecting block 67 via the bypass valve 74 and the bypass conduit 73.

After the cleaning has been performed for a sufficiently long time, the shut-off valve 59 of the cleaning medium source 63 is closed. The above process is then repeated with a source of steam to the component sterilization station and a source of sterile air for subsequent drying of the component in contact with the cleaning and sterilization media. In that case, of course, an additional condenser can be provided in the discharge conduit 68 for liquefaction of the vapor, as is known.

After cleaning and sterilization of the closure device 12 and the section of the vacuum conduit, the actual closing of the prefilled syringe body 1 by the syringe plug 4 now takes place with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8. Then, the shutoff valve 57 is closed for that. In a first working step, the filled syringe body 1 is stopped below the vacuum tool 13 at an interval. In addition, a supply device with a syringe plug 4 is provided between the vacuum tool 13 and the vacuum and guide tool 45, which are located at a distance from each other (FIG. 3).

Next, as shown in FIG.
3 is brought into contact with the flange 3 of the syringe body 1, and the supply device 37 is lowered toward the vacuum tool 13 and the vacuum / guide tool 45 is lowered toward the supply device 37. As a result, the individual components are sealed from one another and the inner chamber 5 of the syringe body 1 is sealed against the inner chamber 11 of the casing 10.

Next, a negative pressure is applied to the vacuum tool 13 and the vacuum / guide tool 45 through the controlled opening of the main shut-off valve 33, and at the same time, the pushing tappet 48 previously positioned at the lifted position is opened. Descended,
The syringe stopper is delivered from the syringe stopper carrier 40 into the vacuum tool 13 (FIG. 5). It is important that the syringe plug 4 just opens the annular gap 28 toward the inner chamber 5 of the syringe body 1 in the position shown in FIG.
The pressure reaches not only the inside of the inner chamber 5 but also the side of the syringe stopper 4 opposite to the inner chamber 5. This pressure corresponds to the pressure just above the boiling pressure of the liquid filled in the inner chamber 5. Since the same negative pressure acts not only on the vacuum tool 13 but also on the vacuum / guide tool 45, no differential pressure is generated on both sides of the syringe body. It can only be moved in a controlled manner via purely mechanical movement.

Now, the push-in tappet 48 pushes the syringe stopper 4 exactly into the syringe body 1 above the filling mirror surface 6, so that the pressure of the air trapped between the filling mirror surface 6 and the syringe stopper 4 reduces the pressure of the syringe body. 1 corresponding to the external pressure (FIG. 6). Finally, as shown in FIG. 7, the vacuum tool 13 and the vacuum / guide tool 45 are controlled and ventilated, and as shown in FIG. 8, the vacuum tool 13, the supply device 37 and the vacuum / guide tool 45 are lifted, And the supply device 37 is swiveled sideways to receive a new syringe stopper 4. Then, in the next transport cycle, the vacuum tool 13
When the syringe body 1 is transported below the above, the above-described process is repeated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a device according to the present invention in a cleaning position or a sterilization position.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the closing device.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a working position of one of the closing devices shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another working position of the closing device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing still another working position of the closing device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing yet another working position of the closing device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing yet another working position of the closing device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing still another working position of the closing device shown in FIG. 2;

9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the closing device shown in FIG. 2 in a cleaning position or a sterilization position.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 syringe body (container), 2 cap, 3 flange, 4 syringe stopper (closure stopper), 5 inner chamber, 6
Filled mirror surface, 10 casing, 11 inner chamber, 1
2 closing device, 13 vacuum tool, 14, 15 opening, 16 middle part, 17 lower part, 18 upper part, 19, 21 through hole, 22 seal ring,
23 packing, 24 notch, 25 support device,
26 side hole, 27 annular chamber, 28 annular gap, 3
1 supply conduit, 32 distribution conduit, 33 main shut-off valve,
34 branch conduit, 35 shut-off valve, 37 feeder,
39 through hole, 40 syringe stopper carrier, 41 through hole, 42 seal ring, 45 vacuum / guide tool,
46 through hole, 47 bearing packing, 48 push-in tappet, 49 annular gap, 51 side hole, 52
Branch conduit, 53 shut-off valve, 54 distribution conduit, 55
Bifurcation, 56 washing or sterilizing conduit, 57
Shut-off valve, 58 distributor, 59, 60, 61 shut-off valve, 63 washing or sterilizing medium source, 64 sterile air source, 65 steam source, 67 assembly block,
68 discharge conduit, 69 discharge container, 70 holes, 7
1 collecting conduit, 72 short conduit, 73 bypass conduit, 74 bypass valve, 75 inflow tubing

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (72) Inventor Ulrich Klaus Ilshofen Ha Igoldweg 2

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A device (12) for closing a container (1) filled with a filling with a closure plug (4), said container being in sealing contact with the upper side (3) of the container (1). A first vacuum device (1) for evacuating the head chamber (5)
3) is provided, and the vacuum device is provided with a vacuum conduit (3).
It is connected to a vacuum source (30) via 1) and is provided above the container (1) with a guide device (37) for a closure plug (4).
And a first vacuum device (13) and a vacuum conduit, wherein the first vacuum device (13) and the vacuum conduit are provided with an introduction device (48) for introducing the closure plug (4) into the container (1). A vacuum conduit (31) is connectable to a source of cleaning or sterilizing medium (63, 64, 65) for cleaning and sterilizing with the part (32, 34) of (31), and the first vacuum The device (13) can be connected to a discharge device (67) for the cleaning or sterilizing medium, so that the flow path for the cleaning or sterilizing medium is connected to the part of the vacuum conduit (31) and to the first vacuum Device for closing a container filled with a filling with a closure plug, characterized in that it is formed by a device (13). 2. The introduction device for pushing the closure plug (4) into the container (1) has a push-in tappet (48), which push-in tappet in the cleaning position or in the sterilization position has a first vacuum device (48). 13) through the discharge device (67)
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device projects into the hole (70). 3. A discharge device (67) comprising a first vacuum device (1).
3. The side facing (3) has an inlet (72) for a cleaning or sterilizing medium for cleaning or sterilizing the push-in tappet section protruding into the discharge device (67). Equipment. 4. A second vacuum tool (45) for receiving a pushing tappet (48) is arranged above the supply device (37), the second vacuum tool being likewise a vacuum source (30).
Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the apparatus is connected to: 5. The cleaning medium in which the second vacuum tool (45) in the cleaning or sterilization position flows via the vacuum conduit (31) via the first vacuum device (13) into the discharge device (67). Or being flowed through a sterile medium.
The described device. 6. A cleaning position or a sterilizing position of the first vacuum device (13) and the second vacuum device (45) between the first vacuum device (13) and the second vacuum device (45). ,
Instead of the feeding device (37), a push-in tappet (48)
6. The device according to claim 4, wherein an adapter plate provided with a notch for mounting is provided. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first vacuum device, the second vacuum device and the supply device are arranged at least in a height-adjustable manner. Item. 8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device has a casing, and the clean room conditions dominate in an inner chamber of the casing. The described device.