Three circuit fill system for blow fill seal containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016347485-A1
Application number	US-201615236993-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 15, 2016
Priority date	Mar 29, 2012
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for filling a blow-fill-seal (BFS) container is provided. The system includes a first fluid circuit constructed to selectively deliver a purge fluid to an open BFS container. A second fluid circuit selectively delivers a product to the open BFS container. A third fluid circuit, having a vent line in fluid communication with the open BFS container and to the ambient, directs a bulk fluid comprising at least the purge fluid from the container when the purge fluid is introduced into the BFS container. The second circuit selectively delivers product when the first fluid circuit selectively does not deliver the purge fluid, and the second circuit selectively does not deliver product when the first circuit selectively delivers the purge fluid.

First claim

1 .- 24 . (canceled)

25 . A filling apparatus for a BFS container comprising:
a filling head constructed to be removably coupled to an open BFS container, the filling head having a first fluid circuit for selectively delivering a purge fluid to the open BFS container, a second fluid circuit for selectively delivering a product to the open BFS container, and a third fluid circuit for directing a bulk flow comprised of at least the purge fluid from the BFS container; a first valve in fluid communication with the first circuit, wherein the first valve is constructed for connection to a supply of purge fluid and wherein the first valve selectively controls the delivery of purge fluid to the first circuit; and a second valve in fluid communication with the second circuit, wherein the second valve is constructed for connection to a supply of product and selectively controls the delivery of product to the second circuit.

26 . The filling apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the first, second, and third circuits each respectively terminate in a respective filling head constructed to be fluidly coupled to the open BFS container.

27 . The filling apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein each filling head has formed axially therethrough a first tube corresponding to the first circuit, a second tube corresponding to the second circuit, and a third tube corresponding to the third circuit, wherein the first, second, and third tubes are coaxial and are each fluidly coupled to their respective fluid circuits.

28 . The filling apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the second valve is constructed as a diaphragm in fluid communication between the supply of product and to the second tube.

29 . The filling apparatus according to claim 28 , further comprising a solenoid that selectively displaces the diaphragm between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position product is permitted to flow through the second tube and in the closed position product is not permitted to flow through the second tube.

30 . The filling apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the purge fluid is air.

Assignees

• Scherer Technologies Llc R P

Inventors

• Colangelo Kevin Colin

Classifications

• B67C3/2642

  specially adapted for sterilising prior to filling · CPC title

• B65B3/006 Primary

  Related operations, e.g. scoring ampoules · CPC title

• B67C3/28

  Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves ({B67C3/2617, B67C3/2625, B67C3/2637 take precedence}; valves in general F16K) · CPC title

• B65B3/04

  Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B29C49/42808

  Filling the article · CPC title