Method and device for sterilizing preforms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254343-B2
Application number	US-201113811424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2011
Priority date	Jul 22, 2010
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

The method and the device according to the invention are used to sterilize preforms ( 1 ) made of a thermoplastic material that are intended for producing blow-molded containers. During the sterilization, a sterilizing agent is introduced into the area of the preform ( 1 ). The sterilizing agent is discharged at least partially from at least one nozzle ( 44 ) in the direction of the preform ( 1 ). An average direction ( 45 ) of the escape of the sterilizing agent from the nozzle ( 44 ) is provided with an angle of inclination ( 46 ) from a longitudinal axis ( 47 ) of the preform ( 1 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for sterilizing preforms that are made of a thermoplastic material and are intended for producing blow-molded containers, the method comprising the steps of: introducing a chemical sterilizing agent into an area of the preform; and heating the preforms before they are blow molded, wherein the chemical sterilizing agent is discharged at least partially from at least one nozzle in a direction of the preform, where a mean discharge direction of the chemical sterilizing agent from the nozzle is provided with an angle of inclination to a longitudinal axis of the preform, wherein the preforms are conveyed past a stationary sterilization device in which the chemical sterilizing agent is introduced, wherein the preform is brought to a temperature of 80° C. before the chemical sterilizing agent is introduced so that the preform has the temperature of at least 80° C. in the area of the inner surface while the chemical sterilizing agent is being introduced.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the temperature is in a range of 100° C. to 130° C.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the angle of inclination is in a range of 10° to 80°.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the angle of inclination is in a range of 20° to 60°.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the angle of inclination is in a range of 30° to 35°.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the chemical sterilizing agent flows from the nozzle into a mouth section of the preform.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein an outlet of the nozzle is positioned closer to an edge of the mouth section than to the longitudinal axis.

8. The method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein a discharge zone of the nozzle is positioned at a distance from an edge of the mouth section.

9. A device for sterilizing preforms that are made of a thermoplastic material and are intended for production of blow-molded containers, the device comprising: a heating line for heating an inner surface of the preform to at least 80° C.; a delivery device for applying a chemical sterilizing agent to at least part of the preform, wherein at least one nozzle for discharging the chemical sterilizing agent has a mean discharge direction of the chemical sterilizing agent, the mean direction of discharge having an angle of inclination to a longitudinal axis of the preform, the device further comprising a stationary sterilization device arranged in a region of a blowing machine and operative to discharge the chemical sterilization agent into the preform in an area of the inner surface that was heated to a temperature of at least 80° C., and a device for conveying the preforms past the stationary sterilization device.

10. The device in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the angle of inclination is in a range of 10° to 80°.

11. The device in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the nozzle has an outlet positioned closer to an edge of a mouth section of the preform than to the longitudinal axis.

12. The device in accordance with claim 11 , wherein a discharge zone of the nozzle is positioned at a distance from an edge of the mouth section.

Assignees

• Herold Thomas
• Rieger Harald
• Klatt Dieter
• Haesendonckx Frank
• Khs Corpoplast Gmbh
• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Herold Thomas
• Rieger Harald
• Klatt Dieter
• Haesendonckx Frank

Classifications

• A61L2103/23

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

• B29C49/1229

  being a cam mechanism · CPC title

• B29C49/42418

  for sterilizing · CPC title

• B29C49/16

  using pressure difference {for pre-stretching}, e.g. pre-blowing · CPC title

• A61L2/208 Primary

  Hydrogen peroxide · CPC title