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Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material and an aseptic bottling system for the aseptic bottling of a liquid material

  • US 20050188651A1
  • Filed: 02/03/2005
  • Published: 09/01/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plant comprising:

  • a beverage bottle cleaning machine being configured and disposed to clean beverage bottles;

    a feed arrangement to supply beverage bottles to said beverage bottle cleaning machine;

    a beverage filling machine being configured and disposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material;

    said beverage filling machine comprising a plurality of beverage filling devices for filling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material;

    at least one storage unit being configured and disposed to store a supply of liquid beverage material;

    at least one supply line being configured and disposed to connect said at least one storage unit to said beverage filling machine to supply liquid beverage material to said beverage filling machine;

    a first conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move beverage bottles from said beverage bottle cleaning machine into said beverage filling machine;

    said first conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure;

    a beverage bottle closing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filled beverage bottles;

    a second conveyer arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles from said beverage filling machine into said beverage bottle closing machine;

    said second conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure;

    a beverage bottle labeling machine being configured and disposed to label filled, closed beverage bottles;

    a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle closing machine into said beverage bottle labeling machine;

    said third conveyer arrangement comprising a star wheel structure;

    a beverage bottle packing station being configured and disposed to package labeled, filled, closed beverage bottles;

    a fourth conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move labeled, filled, closed beverage bottles from said beverage bottle labeling machine to said beverage bottle packing station;

    said fourth conveyer arrangement comprising a linear conveyor structure being configured and disposed to arrange beverage bottles in groups for packing;

    an inner clean room area being configured and disposed to be filled with sterile air, said inner clean room area comprising;

    a wall being configured and disposed to enclose and hermetically seal said inner clean room;

    said wall being disposed such that it substantially outlines the outer edges of each of said beverage bottle cleaning machine, said beverage bottle filling machine, and said beverage bottle closing machine, such that the area enclosed by said wall is minimized;

    said wall comprising openings being configured and disposed to allow the passage of air from said inner clean room area into a security room;

    said wall further comprising openings being configured and disposed to permit bottles to enter and exit said clean room area;

    a plenum or ceiling space being disposed above said clean room area;

    said plenum or ceiling space being configured and disposed to permit entry of a person standing upright to perform maintenance work;

    a false ceiling being disposed substantially between said inner clean room area and said plenum or ceiling space;

    said false ceiling comprising vents configured and disposed to permit the flow of air out of said clean room area;

    a security room being disposed about the periphery of said periphery wall;

    at least one of said beverage bottle cleaning machine, said beverage filling machine, and said beverage bottle closing machine;

    a conveyer device to convey bottles from each of said beverage bottle cleaning machine, said beverage filling machine, and said beverage bottle closing machine;

    a first partition device being disposed substantially between said beverage bottle cleaning machine and said beverage bottle filling machine;

    said first partition device comprising an opening to permit the flow of sterile air between the areas of said beverage bottle cleaning device and said beverage bottle filling device;

    said first partition device further comprising an opening to permit the flow of bottles to said beverage filling device;

    a second partition device being disposed substantially between said beverage bottle filling device and said beverage bottle closing device;

    said second partition device comprising an opening to permit the flow of sterile air between the areas of said beverage bottle filling device and said beverage bottle closing device;

    said second partition device further comprising an opening to permit the flow of bottles to said beverage closing device;

    at least one filtering device being configured and disposed to introduce sterile air into said clean room area;

    said at least one filtering device being disposed substantially above said false ceiling and substantially within said plenum or ceiling space;

    said at least one filtering device comprising a distribution duct configured and disposed to distribute sterile air into said clean room area;

    each of said beverage bottle cleaning machine and said beverage filling machine being at least partially enclosed by a cylindrical shield; and

    said cylindrical shields comprising;

    a top end portion and a bottom end portion;

    a seal or gap disposed between said top end portion and said bottom end portion;

    said seal or gap being configured and disposed to permit the rotors of said beverage cleaning machine and said beverage filling machine to project out horizontally through the cylindrical shields;

    connecting pieces or arms to mount said bottom end portion of said cylindrical shield to said beverage cleaning machine or said beverage filling machine;

    said connecting pieces or arms being configured and disposed to hold said bottom end portion off the ground in order to create a ring-shaped space between said substantially cylindrical shield and said beverage cleaning machine or said beverage filling machine;

    said ring-shaped space being configured and disposed to allow the passage of sterile air from said inner clean room into the inside of said substantially cylindrical shields; and

    said top end portion being configured and disposed to be in sealing engagement with said false ceiling to substantially enclose the open annular space about said beverage cleaning machine and said beverage filling machine to minimize the space required to be filled with sterile air in said inner clean room.

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