U.S. patent application number 10/503963 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-15 for method for the sterilizing a product that is packaged in a packaging material.
Invention is credited to Linden, Johannes, Wolters, Michael.
Application Number | 20050198923 10/503963 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27634846 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050198923 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wolters, Michael ; et
al. |
September 15, 2005 |
Method for the sterilizing a product that is packaged in a
packaging material
Abstract
Illustrated and described are a method and an apparatus for the
sterilisation of a product packaged in a packing, where the package
(1) comprising the product and the packing is subjected to a heat
treatment at a specific temperature and for a specific duration.
For protection of the packages (1), that would usually not be able
to withstand the conditions in an autoclave, the following steps
are used: Introduction of at least one package (1) into a
protective casing (2'), Evacuation of the space between protective
casing (2') and package (1), Closing of the protective casing (2')
hermetically, and Autoclaving of the protective casing (2') and
package (1) in an autoclave. The corresponding apparatus is
provided with one of each of the following units downstream of the
filling unit: one repackaging unit, one evacuation unit, one
autoclave unit and, if required, one unpacking unit.
Inventors: |
Wolters, Michael;
(Heinsberg, DE) ; Linden, Johannes; (Aachen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
|
Family ID: |
27634846 |
Appl. No.: |
10/503963 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
February 7, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP03/01223 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/425 ;
422/26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2/28 20130101; B65B
55/027 20130101; A61L 2/07 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
053/425 ;
422/026 |
International
Class: |
B65B 055/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 8, 2002 |
DE |
102 05 458.4 |
Claims
1. A method for the sterilisation of a product packaged in a
packing, where the package comprising the product and the packing
is subjected to a heat treatment at a specific temperature and for
a specific duration, characterized by the following steps:
Introduction of at least one package into a protective casing,
evacuation of the space between protective casing and package,
closing of the protective casing, and autoclaving of the protective
casing and package in an autoclave:
2. A method for the sterilization of a product packaged in a
packing, where the package comprising the product and the packing
is subjected to a heat treatment at a specific temperature and for
a specific duration, characterized by the following steps:
Introduction of at least one package into a protective casing,
Closing of the protective casing, Evacuation of the space between
protective casing and package, and Autoclaving of the protective
casing and package in an autoclave.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a
separate protective casing for each package.
4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the
protective casing is removed from the package after the
autoclaving.
5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the
protective casing remains on the package after the autoclaving.
6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a
protection system comprising a protective casing and a base plate
can receive multiple packages.
7. Apparatus for performing the method according to one of the
claims 1 to 5, characterized by one of each of the following units
downstream of the filling machine, namely a repackaging unit, an
evacuation unit, an autoclave unit, and, if required, an unpacking
unit.
8. Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 6,
characterized in that a protection system comprising at least one
base plate for the reception of multiple packages and at least one
protective casing covering the packages, wherein the space between
base plate and protective casing can be evacuated.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the base
plate is a metal plate.
10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the
base plate is essentially positioned horizontally, and the packages
are placed on the top of the base plate at a distance to each
other.
11. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the
base plate has multiple openings for the reception of packages, and
the packages are held in the base plate by means of the at least
one protective casing.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the base
plate in the protection system is essentially positioned
horizontally.
13. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the base
plate in the protection system is essentially positioned
vertically.
14. Apparatus according to claim 7 to 13, characterized in that
each protective casing consists of a flexible foil.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the foil
is a plastic foil comprising a barrier layer.
16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that
the protective casing consists of polypropylene (PP).
17. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that
the protective casing consists of polyethylene terephtalate
(PETP).
18. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that
the protective casing consists of a thin duroplastic foil.
19. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the
protective casing consists of rubber.
20. Apparatus according to one of the claims 14 to 19,
characterized in that the protective casing consists of a shrinking
foil.
21. Apparatus according to one of the claims 14 to 20,
characterized in that the protective casing has a metallic coating.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a method and an apparatus to
sterilize a product packaged in a packing, where the package
comprising the product and the packing is subjected to a heat
treatment at a specific temperature and for a specific
duration.
[0002] It has been know for a long-time to subject products
packaged in portions such as food to a so-called autoclave method.
Cans, for example, that have been filled with a food product, are
hereby exposed to a specific temperature in an autoclave for a
specific duration to safely kill the germs in the package. Cans
have particularly proven themselves for this purpose as they are
insensitive to the conditions in the autoclave (high temperature,
high humidity).
[0003] If, however, food products, or other products that require
sterilization, are not packaged in cans but in a different packing,
the packing must first be sterilized--requiring a relatively high
amount of additional efforts--, then the product must be filled
into the packing and eventually the packing must be closed
aseptically.
[0004] The carton or plastic composite packages are also able to
hold products such as milk or mashed vegetables for a longer period
of time.
[0005] The object of the invention is to enhance and develop this
method and the corresponding apparatus to sterilize a package in
order to also allow the use of packages that would usually not be
able to withstand the conditions in an autoclave.
[0006] In regards to the method, the object is solved by means of
the following steps:
[0007] Introduction of at least one package into a protective
casing,
[0008] Evacuation of the space between protective casing and
package,
[0009] Closing of the protective casing hermetically, and
[0010] Autoclaving of the protective casing and package in an
autoclave
[0011] In regards to the apparatus, the object is solved with one
of each of the following units downstream of the filling unit: one
repackaging unit, one evacuation unit, one autoclave unit and, if
required, one unpacking unit.
[0012] According to the invention, the repackaged product to be
sterilized, such as a carton composite package filled with food
products to be sterilized, and sensitive to water, is protected
from the penetration of water and gas. The protective casing
prevents any negative impairment of the carton composite package
due to the autoclave water. The additional packing of the
protective casing ensures that neither water nor gas can penetrate
into the packing material of the package. This ensures that neither
the form of the package nor the quality of the product is
impaired.
[0013] Thanks to the adaptable form of the protective casing and
the creation of a low pressure (vacuum) between the product to be
sterilized and the protective casing, the protective casing wraps
itself very closely around the product to be sterilized. The very
close "protective skin" enables a good heat transmission from the
energy carrier, the autoclave hot water, or the autoclave steam, to
the protective casing, and, due to the heat conduction through the
protective casing, to the product to be sterilized, or to its
packing. A good heat transmission increases the efficiency of an
autoclave through the reduction of the autoclave cycle time.
[0014] Flexible or semi-flexible packages to be sterilized such as
carton/plastic composite packages (for example for food products),
bags (for example for infusion solutions or other pharmaceutical
products), aluminum trays, food trays etc require a so-called
counterpressure (dependant on the product that is packaged in the
packing) during the autoclave method to prevent crushing and
deformation or even bursting. This counterpressure is also called
holding pressure or supporting pressure. According to the
invention, the protective casing is capable of creating the
required counterpressure on the package to be sterilized and
thereby prevents a damage to the package.
[0015] An additional teaching of the invention provides a separate
protective casing for each package. The protective casing can
either be removed from the package after the autoclaving, or can
remain on the packaged product--for example as a protection during
transport, or from humidity, germs, aromas etc.
[0016] Another embodiment of the invention provides a protection
system comprising a protective casing and a base plate to receive
multiple packages for the following autoclaving. In this solution
according to the invention, a protective casing with respective
dimensions also ensures at the same time the protection of multiple
packages that have been positioned at a distance to each other.
According to a further teaching of the invention, such a protection
system comprises at least one base plate to receive multiple
packages and at least one protective casing that wraps the
packages, wherein the space between base plate and protective
casing(s) can be evacuated.
[0017] In the following, the phrase "base plate" not only comprises
elements with the form of a plate, but includes all elements formed
like a frame or a rack, which carry the weight of the packages to
be sterilized, but also ensure their distance to each other.
[0018] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the
base plate is metal plate. This ensures a good heat transmission
also in the area where the package has direct contact to the base
plate.
[0019] Another teaching of the invention provides that the base
plate is essentially positioned horizontally and that the packages
are placed on top of the base plate with a distance to each other.
When, as described in a further embodiment of the invention, the
base plate has multiple openings for the reception of packages, and
the packages in the base plate are held by the at least one
protective casing, the base plate in the protection system can
essentially have a horizontal or vertical orientation.
[0020] In a horizontal orientation, the protective casing must
ensure that the packages to be sterilized are held reliably below
the openings. In this case, a part of the protective casing, or an
additional casing, or a "cover", ensures the required
counterpressure in the area of the base plate's openings above the
packages to be sterilized. In this embodiment, the packages can be
wrapped completely with the protective casing, without being in
immediate contact with the base plate.
[0021] In a vertical orientation of the base plate, the protective
casing only needs to support the packages, which are placed in the
openings of the base plate, from the side, while the weight of the
packages is essentially held by the base plate.
[0022] The protective casing can be made from various materials or
material combinations. The material of the protective casing must
essentially be impermeable to water, water steam and gas, and,
preferably, a flexible foil is used. In addition, the protective
casing must have a certain mechanic solidity under autoclave
conditions. Preferably, the protective casing comprises a plastic
foil with a barrier layer. The protective casing can consist of
polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephtalate (PETP), or another
copolymer or a mixture thereof. According to another teaching of
the invention, the protective casing consists of a thin duroplastic
foil. It is also possible to use rubber for the protective casing.
A barrier against gas or water can be achieved through a metallic
coating.
[0023] Following, the invention is described in more detail by
means of a drawing that only shows the preferred embodiments. In
the drawing shows
[0024] FIG. 1 in perspective, a package to be sterilized, in a
protective casing that has not been closed yet,
[0025] FIG. 2 the package from FIG. 1, in a closed protective
casing after the evacuation,
[0026] FIG. 3A schematically, multiple packages to be sterilized,
on a base plate,
[0027] FIG. 3B the packages to be sterilized from FIG. 3A, in a
protective casing before the evacuation,
[0028] FIG. 3C the packages to be sterilized from FIG. 3B, after
the evacuation,
[0029] FIG. 4A another embodiment of the protection system
according to the invention, schematically in cross-section,
[0030] FIG. 4B the protection system from FIG. 4A, schematically,
in top view,
[0031] FIG. 4C the protection system from FIG. 4A, schematically,
containing the packages to be sterilized, after the evacuation,
[0032] FIG. 5A another embodiment of the protection system
according to the invention before the evacuation, schematically in
cross-section and,
[0033] FIG. 5B the protection system from FIG. 5A after the
evacuation, schematically side-view.
[0034] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a package 1 to be sterilized, in this
preferred embodiment, a rectangular carton/plastic composite
package, that is being prepared for the autoclave process in a
single protective casing 2. To achieve this, the protective casing
2, as shown in FIG. 2, is closed, and evacuated by means of a line
3 comprising a valve (not shown). The protected package 1 can now
be autoclaved without damaging its form or content, the protective
casing 2 can then be removed from the package 1, or remain wrapped
around the package 1 to be removed by the reseller or end
consumer.
[0035] FIGS. 3A and 3C show an embodiment of the protection system
according to the invention, wherein a base plate 4 and at least one
protective casing 2' are aligned in such a way that multiple
packages 1 to be sterilized are held within this protection system.
In this embodiment, the base plate 4 consists of material that
transfers heat well, such as metal, to ensure sufficient heat
introduction/exchange from below to the packages 1 during the
autoclave treatment. The protective casing 2' and the base plate 4
are connected with each other in a pressure-tight manner by at
least one closure 5, that might, for example, go all around the
casing. The combination of protective casing 2' and base plate 4
creates sufficient counterpressure, so that the packages are not
deformed or damaged during the autoclaving. FIG. 3C shows, in a
dashed line, that such a protection system can also have several
lines 3 for evacuation.
[0036] An alternative embodiment of the protection system according
to the invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The base plate 4'
provides multiple openings 6 of about the size of a package
cross-section. In FIG. 4, the base plate 4' is positioned
horizontally and the protective casing 2' is led through the
openings 6, creating separate, bag-like chambers 7 for the
reception of the packages 1. FIG. 4C shows that in this embodiment,
the packages 1 are no longer in contact with the base plate 4'
after the evacuation. In addition, a cover 8 with noses 9 of about
the same size as the openings 6, is put on the base plate 4' from
above.
[0037] Finally, FIGS. 5A and 5B show an additional embodiment of
the invention, where a vertically positioned base plate 4" provides
openings 6 for the reception of the packages 1, and a protective
casing 2", enclosing the complete base plate 4", ensures the
sealing of the packages against the environment, as well as their
secure hold in the base plate 4". This embodiment provides itself
as a preferred solution since the closing, evacuation, opening, and
removal of the protective casing is particularly easy and fast.
* * * * *