Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for aseptically filling premanufactured, presterilized, flexible containers, connected in a continuous web, includes a chamber with an inlet mouth for receiving empty containers seriatim, and an outlet mouth for dispensing filled containers seriatim. The inlet and outlet mouths have respective seals for sealing to the surface of the containers to prevent entry of contaminants into the chamber. This chamber is partitioned to form a spraying compartment, adjacent to the inlet mouth, and a filling compartment, adjacent to the outlet mouth, with a drying compartment therebetween. A sterilizing agent is continuously sprayed, as a mist, into the spraying compartment to coat the exterior of the containers with the sterilizing agent as they are serially advanced through the chamber. This mist also provides an aseptic barrier between the inlet mouth and the drying compartment. A source of sterile air is input to the filling compartment to maintain a positive pressure therein, and thus, prevent entry of contaminants. This heated sterile air flows from the filling compartment to the drying compartment to dry the containers after they have been sprayed. The containers are then advanced to the filling compartment where they are filled and dispensed through the outlet mouth. The length of time the empty containers are exposed to the atmosphere, and thus, the amount of contamination on the exterior of the containers, may be reduced by utilizing the sealed overwrap bag, in which the containers are presterilized, to form a relatively sterile tunnel for feeding the containers to the inlet mouth.

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First Claim