APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STERILIZING CONTAINERS

• US 20150071818A1
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: Scheuren, Hans, Knott, Josef, Seidenberg, Katharina, Neubauer, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,522,755 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/23 Containers, e.g. vials, bottles, syringes, mail
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/08 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/16 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 29/06 Screens for shielding; Masks interposed in the electron stream

Abstract

An apparatus for sterilizing containers, comprises a transport device which transports the containers along a predefined transport path and at least one sterilization device which bombards the containers with charge carriers for sterilization during a transport of the containers along the transport path. The at least one sterilization device comprises a generating device for generating charge carriers. The apparatus further comprises a screening device for screening radiation. The screening device surrounds the transport path of the containers at least in portions. The screening device comprises: a first wall adjacent the transport path of the containers; and a second wall below the transport path of the containers, wherein the second wall is movable relative to the transport path of the containers.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sterilizing containers, comprising:

a transport device which transports the containers along a predefined transport path;

at least one sterilization device which bombards the containers with charge carriers for sterilization during a transport of the containers along the transport path, wherein the at least one sterilization device comprises a generating device for generating charge carriers; and

a screening device for screening radiation, the screening device surrounding the transport path of the containers at least in portions, wherein the screening device comprises;

a first wall adjacent the transport path of the containers; and

a second wall below the transport path of the containers, wherein the second wall is movable relative to the transport path of the containers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement of the second wall forms an accessible opening to at least one sterilization device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second wall is formed at least in portions as a support surface for an operator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transport device has a movable carrier, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of holding elements on the movable carrier that hold the containers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second wall is movable in a longitudinal direction of the containers to be sterilized.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screening device at least in portions has a third wall which extends at the side adjacent the transport path of the containers, wherein the transport path at least in portions extends between the first wall and the third wall.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the third wall is movable relative to the first wall.

8. A method for processing plastic containers, comprising:

transporting the plastic containers along a predefined transport path in an operating mode;

sterilizing, by a sterilization device, the plastic containers during the transporting of the plastic containers by bombarding the plastic containers with charge carriers;

generating, by a charge carrier generating device, the charge carriers;

screening, by a screening device, X-ray radiation generated during sterilization of the plastic containers, wherein the screening device has a first wall which extends at least in portions along the transport path of the plastic containers, and a second wall below the transport path of the plastic containers; and

moving, in another operating mode, the second wall to form an accessible opening to at least one region of the sterilization device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein during sterilization, the plastic containers are transported through a transport channel, wherein the transport channel is formed by at least two side walls and the second wall, and wherein the movement of the second wall exposes an opening located below the transport path, through which the region of the sterilization device is made accessible for an operator.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein both an outer wall and an inner wall of the plastic containers are bombarded with charge carriers.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second wall is movable in a longitudinal direction of the containers to be sterilized.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the screening device at least in portions has a third wall which extends at the side adjacent the transport path of the containers, wherein the transport path at least in portions extends between the first wall and the third wall.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the third wall is movable relative to the first wall.