Apparatus and method of forming a sterile product package
First Claim
1. Apparatus for forming sterile packages containing a sterile product, said apparatus comprising an extruder ring for extruding a bubble like tube of thermoplastic film at a self-sterilizing temperature, a sterile gas supply coupled to said extruder ring for introducing gas into a newly extruded sterile thermoplastic film tube portion at at least a shape maintaining pressure;
- filling equipment mounted within said sterile gas supply in a position to dispense a sterile product through said extruder into said sterile thermoplastic film tube portion, means within said sterile gas supply for at least externally sterilizing said filling equipment;
a source of a sterile product;
conduit means connecting said source of a sterile product with said filling equipment, and sterilizing means coupled to said conduit means for at least internally sterilizing said conduit means whereby a sterile product is delivered to said filling equipment, and means for separating said sterile thermoplastic film tube into closed containers which are internally sterile and have therein a fill of a sterile product.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This relates to the sterile packaging of sterile products. A suitable thermoplastic film tube is formed by an extrusion process wherein the resultant tube is initially sterile internally and externally. The shape of the tube is maintained by a gas supplied under pressure, which gas is maintained in a sterile condition. The resultant tube portions, containers or pouches are filled utilizing filling equipment which is disposed within a housing of the sterile gas supply apparatus and is maintained externally in a sterile state by a suitable heater or other external sterilization methods. A sterile product is delivered from a sterile kettle or the like through a conduit to the filling equipment. The conduit and the filling equipment may be internally sterilized by circulating a suitable chemical sterilizing liquid therethrough as an initial part of the product packaging operation.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for forming sterile packages containing a sterile product, said apparatus comprising an extruder ring for extruding a bubble like tube of thermoplastic film at a self-sterilizing temperature, a sterile gas supply coupled to said extruder ring for introducing gas into a newly extruded sterile thermoplastic film tube portion at at least a shape maintaining pressure;
- filling equipment mounted within said sterile gas supply in a position to dispense a sterile product through said extruder into said sterile thermoplastic film tube portion, means within said sterile gas supply for at least externally sterilizing said filling equipment;
a source of a sterile product;
conduit means connecting said source of a sterile product with said filling equipment, and sterilizing means coupled to said conduit means for at least internally sterilizing said conduit means whereby a sterile product is delivered to said filling equipment, and means for separating said sterile thermoplastic film tube into closed containers which are internally sterile and have therein a fill of a sterile product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- filling equipment mounted within said sterile gas supply in a position to dispense a sterile product through said extruder into said sterile thermoplastic film tube portion, means within said sterile gas supply for at least externally sterilizing said filling equipment;
- 9. A method of providing and filling portions of a sterilized plastic film tube with a sterile product, said method comprising the steps of extruding a plastic film tube at a temperature sufficient to ensure sterility of both inner and outer surfaces of the plastic film tube, supplying a sterile gas to the plastic film tube as it is being formed at a pressure at least as great to maintain the shape of the plastic film tube, supplying a sterile product through the sterile gas into the plastic film tube as the plastic film tube is being formed, and sealing off and separating filled plastic film tube portions.
Specification