초록 ▼

An adapter assembly and a process for supplying a sterilant to a packaging system for cleaning and filling of packages. Specifically, an adapter assembly for directly supplying a sterilant, such as hydrogen peroxide, from a packaging container, such as a blow-molded tight-head plastic packaging cont

An adapter assembly and a process for supplying a sterilant to a packaging system for cleaning and filling of packages. Specifically, an adapter assembly for directly supplying a sterilant, such as hydrogen peroxide, from a packaging container, such as a blow-molded tight-head plastic packaging container, to the packaging system without using any intermediate carrier, such as a carboy.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An adapter assembly for supplying a sterilant from a packaging container with an internally threaded neck surrounding a container opening and with an externally threaded bung plug for sealing the container opening, into a packaging system for cleaning and filling of packages, the adapter assembly

1. An adapter assembly for supplying a sterilant from a packaging container with an internally threaded neck surrounding a container opening and with an externally threaded bung plug for sealing the container opening, into a packaging system for cleaning and filling of packages, the adapter assembly comprising: a unitary adapter body, a dip tube, and a gasket, wherein:said unitary adapter body has a first tubular body portion, a second tubular body portion, and a collar portion which is positioned intermediate said first and second tubular body portions for pressing the gasket against the neck of the packaging container,said dip tube is fitted to a first end of said first tubular body portion,said unitary adapter body has a dispensing passage extending through said first tubular body portion and communicating with an interior passage of said dip tube;said unitary adapter body further has at least one venting or pressurizing passage extending through said first tubular body portion and communicating at the first end of the first body portion with an annular space between an outer surface of said dip tube and an inner surface of said second tubular body portion,said second tubular body portion has an external thread for engagement with the internally threaded neck of the packaging container, andsaid gasket surrounds said second tubular body portion and abuts to said collar portion. 2. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said external thread of said second tubular body portion is a buttress thread. 3. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first tubular body portion has four venting or pressurizing passages spaced in 90°-intervals. 4. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said unitary adapter body and said dip tube are made of stainless steel. 5. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of said dip tube is welded into a socket at said first end of said first tubular body portion. 6. The adapter assembly according claim 1, wherein a second end of said first tubular body portion opposite from said first end is provided with an external thread. 7. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein a second end of said first tubular body portion opposite from said first end is provided with an annular groove, and wherein said at least one venting or pressurizing passage end in said annular groove. 8. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first tubular body portion has a zone with a hexagonal exterior cross-section adjacent said collar portion. 9. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first tubular body portion has two flat regions machined therein to use for wrench tightening. 10. A process for supplying a sterilant directly from a packaging container into a packaging system for cleaning and filling of packages, comprising: providing a sterilant in a packaging container with an internally threaded neck surrounding a container opening and with an externally threaded bung plug for sealing said container opening,removing said externally threaded bung plug from said internally threaded neck of said packaging container,sealingly attaching the adapter assembly according to claim 1 to said packaging container by engagement of said external thread of said second body portion of said adapter body with said internally threaded neck of said packaging container after introducing said dip tube into said container opening,connecting an interface of said packaging system to said first tubular body portion of said adapter body, andsupplying said sterilant directly from said packaging container through said adapter body of said adapter assembly into said packaging system. 11. The process according to claim 10, wherein said step of supplying said sterilant directly from said packaging container through said adapter body into said packaging system comprises a step of pumping said sterilant from said packaging container with a pump of said packaging system or a step of applying an overpressure through said interface to said at least one venting or pressurizing passage at a second end of said first tubular body portion of said adapter body for displacing said sterilant from said packaging container. 12. The process according to claims 10, wherein said packaging system is an aseptic packaging system for sterilizing and aseptic filling of packages or an extended shelf-life packaging system. 13. The process according to claim 10, wherein said packaging system is selected from the group consisting of pouches, bottles, and laminated carton packages. 14. The process according to claim 10, wherein said packaging container is a blow-molded tight-head plastic packaging container. 15. The process according to claim 10, wherein said sterilant is selected from the group consisting of acids, ethanol, oxides, and peroxides. 16. The process according to claim 10, wherein said sterilant is selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, peracetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide. 17. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said packaging system is selected from the group consisting of pouches, bottles, and laminated carton packages. 18. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said packaging container is a blow-molded tight-head plastic packaging container. 19. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said gasket is a flat annular elastomer gasket. 20. An adapter assembly for supplying a sterilant from a packaging container with an internally threaded neck surrounding a container opening and with an externally threaded bung plug for sealing the container opening, into a packaging system for cleaning and filling of packages, the adapter assembly comprising: a unitary adapter body having a first tubular body portion, a second tubular body portion having an external thread for engagement with an internally threaded neck of a packaging container, and a collar portion which is intermediate said first and second tubular body portions,a dip tube fitted to a first end of said first tubular body portion, and a gasket, wherein: said unitary adapter body has a dispensing passage extending through said first tubular body portion and communicating with an interior passage of said dip tube and has at least one venting or pressurizing passage extending through said first tubular body portion and communicating with an annular space between an outer surface of said dip tube and an inner surface of said second tubular body portion, andsaid gasket surrounds said second tubular body portion, abuts to said collar portion, has a planar upper surface facing a planar lower surface of said collar portion, and has a planar lower surface for abutment with a planar rim surrounding said container opening of said packaging container. 21. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one venting or pressurizing passage extends from the first end of the first tubular body portion of the unitary adapter body through the first tubular body portion to one or more openings, disposed between the dispensing passage and the outer circumference of the second end of the first tubular body portion, at the second end of the first body portion.