Sterilization machine and method for sterilizing packaging containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10226540-B2
Application number	US-201515119577-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2014
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

Sterilization apparatus for sterilizing packaging containers, the sterilization apparatus comprising a first carousel for supporting a plurality of sterilization devices, the sterilization devices being adapted to sterilize an interior of the packaging containers by electron beam irradiation, and a transport system for transporting the packaging containers, the transport system comprising a second carousel coaxial with the first carousel, wherein the first carousel comprises a first rotatable shaft and the second carousel comprises a separate second rotatable shaft coaxial with the first rotatable shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a plurality of packaging containers, the sterilization apparatus comprising:
a first carousel for supporting a plurality of sterilization devices, the sterilization devices being adapted to sterilize an interior of the packaging containers by electron beam irradiation, and
a transport system comprising a second carousel for transporting the plurality of packaging container such that each of the plurality of packaging containers is aligned with one of the plurality of sterilization devices supported on the first carousel, the second carousel being coaxial with the first carousel,
wherein
the first carousel comprises a first rotatable shaft, and
the second carousel comprises a separate second rotatable shaft coaxial with the first rotatable shaft.

2. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilization apparatus comprises a first driving device for rotating the first carousel.

3. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first driving device is coupled by an operative connection to the second rotatable shaft for synchronously driving the first and second rotatable shafts.

4. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the sterilization apparatus comprises a second driving device for rotating the second carousel.

5. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilization apparatus comprises a synchronization means for synchronizing a rotational movement of the first carousel and the second carousel.

6. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first carousel comprises a carrier plate, attached to the rotatable shaft close to an end portion of the rotatable shaft, wherein the a plurality of sterilization devices are attached to the carrier plate.

7. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first rotatable shaft is constructed as a hollow shaft having an interior channel for receiving at least one utility line for the sterilization devices.

8. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a distribution chamber is arranged close to an end portion of the first rotatable shaft facing the second rotatable shaft.

9. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the distribution chamber is arranged on a first side of the carrier plate and the plurality of sterilization devices are mounted on a second side of the carrier plate.

10. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the distribution chamber comprise at least one opening towards the second side of the carrier plate opposite the first side.

11. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a distribution device for distributing at least one utility to the sterilization devices, arranged within the distribution chamber.

12. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the distribution device includes a swivel.

13. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the distribution chamber comprises a radiation shielding, in particular against X-rays.

14. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one second sterilization device is arranged between the first carousel and the second carousel for sterilizing an outer surface of the packaging containers.

15. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the second sterilization device extends at least partly between the first rotatable shaft and the second rotatable shaft.

16. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the second sterilization device has a longitudinal axis extending substantially transversely to the rotation axis of the first rotatable shaft and/or the second rotatable shaft.

17. Method for sterilizing a plurality of packaging containers, in particular with a sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , the method comprising:
rotating a first carousel supporting a plurality of sterilization devices which are adapted to sterilize an interior of the packaging containers by electron beam irradiation, and
transporting the packaging containers by a transport system comprising a second carousel such that each of the plurality of packaging containers is aligned with one of the plurality of sterilization devices supported on the first carousel, the second carousel being coaxial with the first carousel,
wherein
the first carousel comprises a first rotatable shaft,
the second carousel comprises a separate second rotatable shaft coaxial with the first rotatable shaft, and
the first carousel is rotated by a first driving device connected to the first rotatable shaft for rotation thereof.

18. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first rotatable shaft is configured to be driven by a first driving device and the second rotatable shaft is configured to be driven by a second driving device, the first and second driving devices being mounted outward from a sterilization area defined between the first carousel and the second carousel.

19. Sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a lifting device moving the plurality of packaging containers along a vertical direction towards and away from the first carousel supporting the plurality of sterilization devices such that the sterilization devices are inserted into the packaging containers.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Dickner Jonas
• Mellbin Håkan
• Lindgren Roger
• Åkesson Mats

Classifications

• A61L2103/23

  Containers other than laboratory or medical, e.g. bottles or mail · CPC title

• G21K5/02

  having no beam-forming means · CPC title

• B65B55/08 Primary

  by irradiation · CPC title

• H01J37/07

  Eliminating deleterious effects due to thermal effects or electric or magnetic fields (H01J37/073 - H01J37/077 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65B3/00

  Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars · CPC title