Device cold plasma sterilization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11833264-B2
Application number	US-202017133586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2020
Priority date	Nov 8, 2018
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A device cold plasma sterilization includes a housing, a base, a conveying assembly, a plurality of core modules, a transformer, a control cabinet, a distribution box, a shielding door, and a controller. The housing is disposed on the base. The plurality of core modules is disposed in the housing along a moving direction of the conveying assembly and are spaced apart from each other. The plurality of core modules each include a plurality of electrode assemblies spaced from one another by equal distance and arranged in a row. The transformer, the control cabinet, and the distribution box are disposed in a lower part of the base and are connected to the plurality of electrode assemblies. The conveying assembly is disposed in a middle part of the base. The base includes an inlet for entry and an outlet for exit of a package to be sterilized.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a housing;
a base;
a conveying assembly;
a plurality of core modules;
a transformer;
a control cabinet;
a distribution box;
a shielding door; and
a controller;

wherein:
the housing is disposed on the base;
the plurality of core modules is disposed in the housing along a moving direction of the conveying assembly and are spaced apart from each other;
each of the plurality of core modules comprises a plurality of electrode assemblies spaced from one another by equal distance and arranged in a row;
the transformer, the control cabinet, and the distribution box are disposed in a lower part of the base and are connected to the plurality of electrode assemblies;
the conveying assembly is disposed in a middle part of the base;
the base comprises an inlet for entry and an outlet for exit of a package to be sterilized;
the shielding door is disposed next to the inlet and the outlet and configured to open and close the inlet and the outlet;
the controller is disposed outside the housing, and comprises a control box and a touch control panel disposed on a front face of the control box;
the control box comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) connected to the touch control panel; the PLC is configured to control operations of the conveying assembly, the plurality of core modules, the transformer, the control cabinet, the distribution box, the shielding door, and the touch control panel;
each of the plurality of electrode assemblies comprises an electrode pair and a transmission mechanism connected to the electrode pair; and
the electrode pair comprises one or more groups of upper electrodes and lower electrodes oppositely disposed with respect to the upper electrodes; a distance between the upper electrode(s) and the lower electrode(s) is adjustable by the transmission mechanism; the lower electrode(s) is disposed below the conveying assembly and fixed on the housing, and the upper electrode(s) is movable with respect to the lower electrode(s) to press the package to be sterilized.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of core modules is 2-5 in number.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of core modules comprises 2-6 electrode assemblies.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein a distance between centers of two adjacent core modules is 300-500 mm.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the conveying assembly comprises an active linear slide, a driven linear slide, a conveyor belt, a beam, and a servo motor; the active linear slide and the driven linear slide are vertically disposed oppositely to each other; two synchronous pulleys are respectively disposed on an inner side of the active linear slide and an inner side of the driven linear slide; the conveyor belt is movably wound on the two synchronous pulleys; the beam is movably disposed between the active linear slide and the driven linear slide; the servo motor is disposed on a lower end of the active linear slide to drive the beam to move up and down along with the active linear slide and the driven linear slide.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the upper electrode(s) comprises a high-voltage electrode, a fixed frame, a first insulating plate, a mounting plate, and a binding post; the first insulating plate is embedded in the fixed frame; the first insulating plate comprises an upper surface, and the upper surface comprises a first central depression; the high-voltage electrode is disposed in the first central depression; the mounting plate is disposed on the fixed frame and the first insulating plate; the mounting plate comprises a central through hole and the binding post is disposed in the through hole; the binding post comprises a first end extending to connect to the high-voltage electrode, and a second end extending through the beam; the first insulating plate comprises polymethylmethacrylate, phenolic resin or epoxy resin and has a dielectric constant of 3.5-5.0; and a thickness of the first insulating plate is 1.8-3.0 mm.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein a distance between two ends of the upper electrode(s) and the transmission mechanism is no less than 150-180 mm.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the lower electrode(s) comprises a ground electrode, a base plate, and a second insulating plate; the base plate comprises an upper surface, and the upper surface comprises a second central depression; a grounding stud is disposed in the central depression; the ground electrode is disposed in the second central depression and is connected to the grounding stud; the second insulating plate is disposed on the ground electrode; the second insulating plate comprises polymethylmethacrylate, phenolic resin or epoxy resin and has a dielectric constant of 3.5-5.0; and a thickness of the second insulating plate is 3.0-4.5 mm.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transformer comprises an output interface in parallel connection to the upper electrode(s) and the lower electrode(s) of the electrode assemblies via a high voltage shielding line; in the presence of a 220 V voltage, a 60-90 kV electric field is produced between the upper electrode(s) and the lower electrode(s).

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a metal shell and an observation window, and the observation window comprises glass and a metal mesh shielding layer fastened to the glass.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control box comprises an input and output port connected to a master computer of a production line.

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an air blower, an alarm lamp, and a ground connector, wherein the air blower is disposed in the housing; the ground connector is disposed on the housing; the alarm lamp is disposed on the housing and connected to the PLC; when a fault occurs, the PLC controls the alarm lamp to send out a warning signal.

Assignees

• Univ Nanjing Agricultural
• Suzhou Yirun Food Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhang Jianhao
• Wang Jiamei
• Wan Lianghao
• Xu Long

Classifications

• A23B2/00

  Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general · CPC title

• A61L2/14 Primary

  Plasma, i.e. ionised gases · CPC title

• A61L2202/11

  Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title