Pet bottle sterilization apparatus and sterilization method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9861717-B2
Application number	US-201414382134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2014
Priority date	Mar 11, 2013
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A PET bottle sterilization apparatus is for consecutively sterilizing multiple PET bottles (B) while conveying them, and includes a hydrogen peroxide introducing means ( 5 ) for introducing hydrogen peroxide into a PET bottle (B) so as to sterilize its interior and a hot air supplying means ( 6 ) for introducing hot air into the sterilized PET bottle (B) so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside it. This apparatus includes a plasma introducing means (P) for introducing plasma into a PET bottle (B) by injecting plasma through a nozzle at at least one time point among a time point before hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the PET bottle (B), a time point after hydrogen peroxide was introduced into the PET bottle (B) and furthermore before hot air is introduced into the PET bottle (B), and a time point after hot air was introduced into the PET bottle (B).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A PET bottle sterilization apparatus for consecutively sterilizing a plurality of PET bottles while conveying the PET bottles, comprising:
a hydrogen peroxide injector for introducing hydrogen peroxide into a PET bottle so as to sterilize the interior of the PET bottle and
a hot air injector for introducing hot air into the sterilized PET bottle so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside the PET bottle, the PET bottle sterilization apparatus comprising:
at least one plasma injection nozzle for introducing plasma with air or nitrogen or both into a PET bottle by injecting plasma in a carrier gas consisting of at least one of air and nitrogen into the PET bottle at at least one time point among
a time point that is before hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the PET bottle, and
a time point that is after hot air was introduced into the PET bottle.

2. The PET bottle sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one plasma injection nozzle comprises a plurality of nozzles arranged along a PET bottle conveyance path.

3. The PET bottle sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one plasma injection nozzle is configured so as to inject plasma while following a PET bottle being conveyed.

4. A PET bottle sterilization method using a sterilization apparatus that is for consecutively sterilizing a plurality of PET bottles while conveying the PET bottles, comprising:
a hydrogen peroxide injector for introducing hydrogen peroxide into a PET bottle so as to sterilize the interior of the PET bottle and
a hot air injector for introducing hot air into the sterilized PET bottle so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside the PET bottle, the PET bottle sterilization apparatus comprising:
at least one plasma injection nozzle for introducing plasma with air or nitrogen or both into a PET bottle by injecting plasma in a carrier gas consisting of at least one of air and nitrogen into the PET bottle at at least one time point among
a time point that is before hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the PET bottle, and
a time point that is after hot air was introduced into the PET bottle, the PET bottle sterilization method comprising:

adjusting at least one of the inner diameter of the nozzle and the injection pressure of the plasma according to the size of the PET bottle, and
blowing plasma into the PET bottle so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside the PET bottle.

5. A PET bottle sterilization method using a sterilization apparatus that is for consecutively sterilizing a plurality of PET bottles while conveying the PET bottles, comprising:
a hydrogen peroxide injector for introducing hydrogen peroxide into a PET bottle so as to sterilize the interior of the PET bottle and
a hot air injector for introducing hot air into the sterilized PET bottle so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside the PET bottle, the PET bottle sterilization apparatus comprising:
at least one nozzle for introducing plasma with air or nitrogen or both into a PET bottle by injecting plasma in a carrier gas consisting of at least one of air and nitrogen into the PET bottle at at least one time point among
a time point that is before hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the PET bottle, and
a time point that is after hot air was introduced into the PET bottle,

the at least one nozzle comprising a plurality of nozzles, and the plurality of nozzles are arranged along a PET bottle conveyance path,
the PET bottle sterilization method comprising:
adjusting at least one of the inner diameter of the nozzle and the injection pressure of the plasma according to the size of the PET bottle, and
blowing plasma into the PET bottle so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside the PET bottle.

6. A PET bottle sterilization method using a sterilization apparatus for consecutively sterilizing a plurality of PET bottles while conveying the PET bottles, comprising:
a hydrogen peroxide injector for introducing hydrogen peroxide into a PET bottle so as to sterilize the interior of the PET bottle and a hot air supplying means for introducing hot air into the sterilized PET bottle so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside the PET bottle, the PET bottle sterilization apparatus comprising:
at least one nozzle for introducing plasma with air or nitrogen or both into a PET bottle by injecting plasma in a carrier gas consisting of at least one of air and nitrogen into the PET bottle at at least one time point among
a time point that is before hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the PET bottle, and
a time point that is after hot air was introduced into the PET bottle,

the at one least nozzle being configured so as to inject plasma while following a PET bottle being conveyed,
the PET bottle sterilization method comprising:
adjusting at least one of the inner diameter of the nozzle and the injection pressure of the plasma according to the size of the PET bottle, and
blowing plasma into the PET bottle so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside the PET bottle.

Assignees

• Suntory Holdings Ltd
• Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd

Inventors

• Hijikata Shoichi
• Takahashi Tokio

Classifications

• B65B55/10

  by liquids or gases · CPC title

• A61L2/208 Primary

  Hydrogen peroxide · CPC title

• B65B55/08

  by irradiation · CPC title

• A61L2202/13

  Biocide decomposition means, e.g. catalysts, sorbents · CPC title

• B67C7/0073

  Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing (B67C3/2642 takes precedence) · CPC title