PARTICULATE MATTER CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to Blow/Fill/Seal technology, and in particular to a system for containment of particulate matter generated during operation of a Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blow/Fill/Seal (“B/F/S”) technology is a preferred technology for aseptic packaging of pharmaceutical and healthcare products. This packaging is a multi-step process of blow molding an extruded parison, forming a container, aseptically filling the formed container, and hermetically sealing the container in a single sequential operation in an automated machine. A thermoplastic material is heat extruded between mold parts, continuously in a tubular shape, through a circular throat to form a hanging tube referred to as a parison. When the extruded tube (parison) reaches a desired length, the mold closes around the parison and a parison segment is cut from the extruder. The bottom portion of the parison is pinched closed and the top is held open and in place with a set of holding jaws that are part of a mold assembly. The closed mold containing the parison is then transferred to a forming, filling, and sealing station by a mold carriage.

Cutting of the extruded parison usually involves the use of a heated moving cutter such as a hot wire or hot knife which melts through and severs the parison. A potential disadvantage associated with the use of a hot wire or the like expedient is the risk inherent in the generation or creation of parison particulates or vapor during the severance process and the trapping of such particulates within the interior of the ultimately formed, filled, and sealed container.

The present invention facilitates pneumatic control of particulate matter at an extruder head of a Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine and provides a system and method that greatly reduces the likelihood of contaminant particulates entering into a severed parison portion during the Blow/Fill/Seal packaging process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A particulate matter containment system for a Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine includes a suction chamber mountable to the Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine adjacent to a parison extruder head thereof. The suction chamber is provided with at least one suction intake duct and at least one exhaust port. The suction intake duct is in confined flow communication with the suction chamber and defines an intake slot adjacent to the parison extruder head. During operation, a suction generator is operably connected to the exhaust port. A negative pressure differential is maintained between ambient pressure and suction chamber pressure, and induces at the parison severance site an air flow toward the intake slot sufficient to entrain generated particulate matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a particulate matter containment system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the particulate matter containment system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view of the particulate matter containment system taken along plane 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate particulate matter containment system embodying the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine showing a particulate matter containment system embodying the present invention hard mounted in vicinity of a parison extruder head extruding a plurality of parisons;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine of FIG. 5 showing extruded parisons positioned between open mold halves;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine of FIG. 5 showing extruded parisons positioned between closed mold halves; and

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine of FIG. 5 showing a hot knife severing portions of extruded parisons while the parisons are held between closed mold halves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The system embodying this invention may be used in many different forms. The specification and the accompanying drawings disclose only exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated, however.

The precise shapes and sizes of the components herein described are not essential to the invention unless otherwise indicated.

For ease of description, the device and method of this invention will be described in the normal (upright) operating position. Terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., will be used in reference to this position. It will be understood, however, that the device of this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in an orientation other than the position described.

The device of this invention can be utilized with the Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,966 to Weiler et al. and like Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machines. The disclosures therein are incorporated herein by reference to the extent that such disclosures are pertinent and not inconsistent with the present specification.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the particulate matter containment system 10 embodying the present invention includes elongated suction chamber 12, shaped as a rectangular prism, and suction intake duct 14 angled downwardly from suction chamber 12. Suction intake duct 14 is in confined flow communication with chamber 12 and is situated at an obtuse angle relative to chamber 12. Suction intake duct 14 defines intake slot 16 which, in use, preferably is situated in close proximity to the parison bushings of a parison extruder head as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. Suction chamber 12 is also provided with exhaust ports 18, 20, and 22 that, in use, are operably connected to a suction generator such as a vacuum pump, blower, and the like. Mounting brackets 24 and 26 provide means for attaching system 10 to a Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine.

Size and configuration of a particulate matter containment system embodying the present invention depends on the size and location of the parison extruder head in a Blow/Fill/Seal packaging machine. For a parison extruder head provided with six parison bushings, a typical intake slot 16 is about 24.5 inches long and about 1.2 inches wide. In use, a suction generator is selected and coupled to the particulate matter containment system to induce around the extruded parisons an air flow rate of at least sufficient to entrain generated particulate matter.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a particulate matter containment system embodying the present invention. Suction chamber 12 is provided with a pair of suction intake ducts 14 and 28 in confined flow communication therewith. In FIG. 4, the additional, second suction intake duct 28 extends from one end portion of elongated suction chamber 12 and defines second intake slot 29 at about a right angle relative to intake slot 16 of suction intake duct 14. In use, second intake slot 29 can be positioned at one end of a row of parison bushings while intake slot 16 is positioned along the length of a row of parison bushings. If desired, a similar additional suction intake duct can be provided also at the opposite end portion of suction chamber 12.

Operation of the particulate matter containment system embodying the present invention is further illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. In particular, FIG. 5 shows extruder head 40 extruding parisons 42 from parison bushings 44. Particulate matter containment system 30 with suction chamber 32 and suction intake duct 34 is hard mounted adjacent to extruder head 40. Suction intake slot 36 extends along and spans the length of extruder head 40.

Open mold parts 46 and 48 are spaced from extruded parisons 42. FIG. 6 shows extruder head 40 positioned between mold parts 46 and 48. Thereafter, mold parts 46 and 48 are closed around parisons 42 as shown in FIG. 7. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, a reciprocating hot knife severs portions of parisons 42 while particulate matter entraining air flow is maintained at suction intake duct 36 and suction chamber 32. Thus, an air stream entering suction intake duct 36 entrains particulate matter generated by the action of hot knife 50 severing parisons 42 and transports entrained particulate matter into suction chamber 32 and ultimately to an external collection bin (not shown) via exhaust port 38.

While FIGS. 5-8 illustrate use of a single particulate matter containment system, a parison extruder head such as shown in these FIGURES can also be provided with a pair of particulate matter systems flanking the parison extruder, if desired.

In operation, a negative pressure differential between ambient pressure and the intake slot of at least 0.02 pounds per square inch (psi) is maintained by a blower and the like negative pressure generator, preferably a negative pressure differential in the range of about 0.02 psi to about 0.04 psi, to induce entrainment of particulate matter in an air stream as the hot knife severs portions of extruded parisons. The intake slot of the suction intake duct is situated preferably in close proximity to the parison bushings and receives an air flow carrying entrained particulate matter.

The foregoing description and drawings are illustrative embodiments of the invention, but are not to be taken as limiting. Still other variants within the spirit and scope of this invention are possible and will readily present themselves to those skilled in the art.