GB1059969A - Method for the continuous production of containers of thermoplastic material containing a pharmaceutical product and means for the execution of said method - Google Patents

Abstract

1,059,969. Sterile packaging. SOC. FRANCAISE DES LABORATOIRES LABAZ. Feb. 6, 1964 [Feb. 13, 1963], No. 5156/64. Heading B8C. Plastics containers produced by blow-moulding with sterile, preferably inert gas and having stopper or like access means fitted at one end, are filled with liquid, e.g. a pharmaceutical preparation at the other end which is then pre-heated and sealed and the container marked, all in a sterile atmosphere, the sealed containers being subjected to a final sterilizing process. The forming and filling processes are conducted in a sterile room 100, Fig. 8, known machines 103a, 103b, 104a, 104b moulding the containers and applying lower end closures. The filling machines 105a, 105b each consist of a turret 12, having adjustable holders 30 for the containers, which indexes them past filling and Healing means. For shorter containers each holder includes a cylinder 35 to receive the lower closure neck, the neck forcing down a piston 36 to cause a member 41 to be held protruding from the turret periphery. A clip 34 engages the open end of the container. With longer containers, the elements 35, 36 are omitted and the neck itself engages an aperture 40 in the turret to retain the member 41 in its protruding position. A stationary cam rail 43, Fig. 2, holds the member 41 out while containers are placed in the holders at A. There are two filling stations, the first, B, supplying a small quantity 2 of a preparation and the second, C, a diluent 4. Each station comprises a cylinder 56 (56a) placed alternately in communication with a reservoir 57, Fig. 7, and the filling nozzle 60. A pneumatic motor operated piston 55 ejects the liquid into the container 1. The filling operation is dependent on the member 41 being projected so that filling will not occur if a holder is empty. The necks of the filled containers then pass between heated rails 6 at stations D-D<SP>11</SP> and arrive between sealing jaws 75, 76 (8, Fig. 1), and opposite a plunger 7 at station E. The jaws are arranged to imprint a code mark &c. while sealing and the plunger 7 slightly indents the container so as to permit its expansion during subsequent heat sterilization, or later additions to the contents. These operations are again dependent on the presence of a container in the holder. The complete packages are loaded into the compartments of cages 120 suspended from chains carrying them round a sterilizing circuit 124, 130, Fig. 8, the cages travelling slowly through a boiling water bath 130 and after cooling by air or spray means 140, tilting to empty their contents into a shoot 142 at a packaging station 141 (not detailed).