IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0901783
(2010-10-11)
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등록번호 |
US-8511045
(2013-08-20)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Mastio, Michael J.
- Wu, Rei-Young Amos
- McGowan, Michael F.
- Raniwala, Subodh K.
- Schimmel, Gregory
- Schuman, James D.
- Havlik, Steven
- Powell, Richard O.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
69 |
초록
▼
An apparatus for sterile filling of beverage containers has a first module and a second module. The first module rinses and sterilizes empty containers and delivers the sterilized containers to the second module. The second module fills and caps the containers with beverage product at ambient temper
An apparatus for sterile filling of beverage containers has a first module and a second module. The first module rinses and sterilizes empty containers and delivers the sterilized containers to the second module. The second module fills and caps the containers with beverage product at ambient temperature in an active sterilization zone utilizing an e-beam sterilization unit.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising: a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam
1. An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising: a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment and the e-beam treatment aids in sterilizing the filler wheel gripper prior to receiving a container, wherein the filler wheel is configured to fill a container with a product;a transfer wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a transfer wheel e-beam unit, wherein the transfer wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment and the e-beam treatment aids in sterilizing the transfer wheel gripper prior to receiving a container; anda capper wheel having a capper chuck, and a first capper e-beam unit; wherein the capper e-beam unit is directed at the capper chuck such that a cap loaded in the capper chuck receives e-beam treatment prior to the capper wheel placing the cap onto the container and the e-beam treatment aids in sterilizing the capper chuck. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an isolator unit having a housing and an intake wheel within the housing, the intake wheel configured to receive the container and pass the container to the filler wheel, the isolator unit further having a filtered air source adapted to provide air into the housing. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the intake wheel comprises a pair of cooperating intake wheels. 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the filtered air source provides a positive pressure to the isolator unit. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a local air management system operably associated with the filler wheel, wherein the filler wheel localized air management system comprises an inlet manifold, an intermediate supply section, and a generally annular channel that defines a pathway for the containers. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the intermediate supply section defines an outlet for the supply of air proximate an opening of the container as the container is being filled with product by the filler wheel. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the intermediate supply section has a vertical member and a curved end, the vertical member having one end connected to an opening in the inlet manifold, and the curved end having a diverging outlet section defining an increased outlet area adapted to pressurize the annular channel. 8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the annular channel is defined by an inner annular wall and an outer annular wall, and wherein the outer annular wall is spaced from the inner annular wall to define the pathway for containers. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a transfer wheel air management system, wherein the transfer wheel air management system comprises an inlet duct in communication with an outlet manifold, wherein the inlet duct is connected to a filtered air source, wherein the filtered air source provides filtered air to the outlet manifold in a downward direction. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first capper e-beam unit is directed at the cap loaded in the capper chuck, wherein the capper chuck rotates the cap such that substantially all of the inside surface of the cap is exposed to the first capper e-beam unit. 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the capper wheel includes a second capper wheel e-beam emitter directed at an airspace located in between the capper chuck and the container opening. 12. A method of sterile filling of containers comprising: (A) receiving a container in an isolator unit with a first transfer wheel having at least one gripper and passing the container out of the isolator unit to a filler assembly,(B) treating a container gripper located on a filler wheel of the filler assembly by directing a first filler wheel e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface to aid in sterilizing the container gripper on the filler wheel prior to receiving the container for filling, receiving a container with the gripper, and filling the container;(C) treating a gripper located on a second transfer wheel by directing an e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface of the second transfer wheel prior to receiving the filled container to aid in sterilizing the gripper on the second transfer wheel, and passing the filled container to a capper wheel;(D) treating a capper chuck located on a capper wheel by directing a first capper e-beam emitter at the capper chuck to aid in sterilizing the capper chuck, and further treating a cap located on the capper chuck prior to placing the cap on the filled container. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein (A) further comprises delivering air in the isolator unit. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein (B) further comprises directing airflow at the container. 15. The method of claim 12 wherein (B) further comprises treating the container gripper surface with a second filler wheel e-beam emitter prior to receiving a container. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein (B) further comprises directing the first and second filler wheel e-beam emitters proximate to surfaces on the gripper that come into contact with the containers. 17. The method of claim 12 wherein (C) further comprises directing airflow at a top portion of the filled container. 18. The method of claim 12 wherein (C) further comprises directing the second transfer wheel e-beam emitter at an area proximate to surfaces on the gripper, which come into contact with the containers. 19. The method of claim 12 wherein (D) further comprises directing a second e-beam emitter at an inside surface of a cap prior to capping the container such that when the cap is rotated by the capper chuck substantially all of the inside surface of the cap is exposed to the second e-beam emitter. 20. An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising: a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit emitting a first filler wheel e-beam field, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the field encompasses the gripper prior to receiving the container to aid in sterilizing the at least one gripper on the filler wheel, the filler wheel configured to fill the container with a product;a transfer mechanism adapted to receive the container from the filler wheel; anda capper assembly adapted to receive the container from the transfer mechanism, the capper assembly adapted to place a cap on to the container. 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the filler wheel has a filler valve associated with the gripper and is configured to fill the container with a product. 22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the filler wheel has an air management system, wherein the air management system provides a conduit for the supply of air proximate an opening of a container as the container is being filled with product by the filler wheel. 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the air management system comprises an inlet manifold, an intermediate supply section, and a generally annular channel to provide a pathway for containers. 24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the transfer mechanism has a transfer wheel having at least one transfer wheel gripper adapted to receive the container from the filler wheel, the transfer mechanism further having a transfer wheel e-beam unit emitting a transfer wheel e-beam field, wherein the transfer wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one transfer wheel gripper wherein the transfer wheel e-beam field encompasses the at least one transfer wheel gripper prior to receiving the container from the filler wheel. 25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the transfer mechanism further has an air management system, wherein the system has a conduit for the supply of air in a downward direction past the containers on the transfer mechanism. 26. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the capper assembly has a capper wheel having a capper chuck adapted to receive a cap to be placed on the container; and a first capper wheel e-beam emitter operably associated with the capper wheel, the first capper wheel e-beam emitter emitting a first capper wheel e-beam field,wherein the capper wheel moves the capper chuck into the first e-beam field at a start position adapted to be prior to receiving the cap. 27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a second capper wheel e-beam emitter operably associated with the capper wheel, the second capper wheel e-beam emitter emitting a second e-beam field wherein the capper wheel moves the capper chuck into the second e-beam field at a cap loaded position. 28. The apparatus 27 wherein the second capper wheel e-beam emitter is positioned below the capper chuck and wherein the second e-beam field is directed upwards towards an underside surface of the capper chuck. 29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the capper chuck has a central axis wherein the capper wheel rotates the capper chuck about the central axis while the capper chuck is in the second capper wheel e-beam field. 30. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a third capper wheel e-beam emitter operably associated with the capper wheel, the third e-beam emitter emitting a third capper wheel e-beam field, wherein the capper wheel moves the capper chuck into the third capper wheel e-beam field at a cap installing position. 31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the third e-beam field is directed at an airspace below the capper chuck. 32. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising an isolator unit having a housing and an intake wheel within the housing, the intake wheel configured to receive the container and pass the container to the filler wheel, the isolator unit further having a filtered air source adapted to provide air into the housing. 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the intake wheel comprises a pair of cooperating intake wheels. 34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the filtered air source provides a positive pressure to the isolator unit.
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