Method and apparatus for feeding and discharging a continuously operating autoclave

Claim 1

In a feed and discharge arrangement for a continuously operating autoclave provided with a heated medium at super-atmospheric pressure and an internal conveyor for sterilization of articles carried by perforated containers; the improvement comprising: a feed lock for inserting said perforated containers into said autoclave and onto said internal conveyor, a discharge lock for withdrawing said perforated containers having treated articles therein from said autoclave, each of said locks being provided with a valve which in its open position has an aperture that is larger than the diameter of each of said perforated containers, each of said locks including at least two interfitting telescoping cylinders one of which is adapted to contain a perforated container and is provided with a front end creating a front sealing surface when abutting a part of said lock whereby the forward part of said one cylinder forms a locking chamber, a first means in the locking chamber of said feed lock for pushing said container therein through said valve and onto said internal conveyor, and a second means in the locking chamber of said discharge lock for discharging said container from said internal conveyor through said discharge lock valve and into the locking chamber of said discharge lock after said container has been transported to a position adjacent to said discharge lock.

Claim 8

A method for respectively feeding and discharging articles into an autoclave and onto an internal continuous conveyor in a heated liquid bath at superatmospheric pressure for sterilization comprising: a. placing articles to be processed in perforated containers, b. arranging said containers in aligned rows at a feed station leading into said autoclave, c. passing said containers through a feed lock at a feed station and into said autoclave and onto said continuous conveyor, and wherein said feed lock comprises a plurality of telescoping interfitting cylinders in which a forward part of one cylinder forms a locking chamber, and a valve, and a piston in said locking chamber, the method of passing said containers through a feed lock including the steps of: 1. advancing the one cylinder to seal with the valve thereby forming said locking chamber and enclosing a perforated container within said locking chamber, 2. opening the valve, 3. advancing the piston so that the perforated container is moved through the feed lock and onto the conveyor in the autoclave, 4. retracting the piston to a return position, 5. closing the valve, 6. equalizing the pressure between the locking chamber and the ambient by means of a conduit having a valve therein and connected to the feed lock, and 7. returning the one cylinder to its initial position, d. treating said articles in said liquid bath, and e. discharging said treated articles through a discharge lock at a discharge station.

Claim 9

A method for respectively feeding and discharging articles into an autoclave and onto an internal continuous conveyor in a heated liquid bath at superatmospheric pressure for sterilization comprising: a. placing articles to be processed in perforated containers, b. arranging said containers in aligned rows at a feed station leading into said autoclave, c. passing said containers through a feed lock at a feed station and into said autoclave and onto said continuous conveyor, and wherein said feed lock comprises a plurality of telescoping interfitting cylinders in which a forward part of one cylinder forms a locking chamber, and a valve, and a piston in said locking chamber, the method of passing said containers through a feed lock including the steps of: 1. advancing the one cylinder to seal with the valve thereby forming said locking chamber and enclosing a perforated container within said locking chamber, 2. opening the valve, 3. advancing the piston so that the perforated container is moved through the feed lock and onto the conveyor in the autoclave, 4. retracting the piston to a return position, 5. closing the valve, 6. equalizing the pressure between the locking chamber and the ambient by means of a conduit having a valve therein and connected to the feed lock, and 7. returning the one cylinder to its initial position, d. treating said articles in said liquid bath, and e. discharging said treated articles through a discharge lock at a discharge station.