Ultraviolet energy and vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide sterilization of containers
First Claim
1. A method for sterilization of packaging at a sterilization station on a form, fill and seal machine, the method comprising:
- providing packaging to be sterilized at the sterilization station;
partially erecting the packaging to form a partially formed carton;
affixing a fitment on the partially formed carton;
transforming to a vapor phase a solution of hydrogen peroxide having a concentration less than 53%;
subjecting the partially formed carton with a fitment thereon to a predetermined quantity of vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide thereby creating a partially formed carton with the fitment thereon coated with a thin layer of hydrogen peroxide;
condensing the hydrogen peroxide onto the partially formed carton with the fitment thereon;
irradiating the coated partially formed carton with the fitment thereon with ultraviolet radiation for a predetermined set of time thereby creating an irradiated partially formed carton with the fitment thereon; and
drying the irradiated partially formed carton with the fitment thereon with heated air for a predetermined amount of time thereby creating a sterilized partially formed carton with the fitment thereon having less than 0.5 parts per million residue of hydrogen peroxide.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for sterilizing packaging with vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet radiation on a packaging machine. A partially formed carton is sprayed with gaseous hydrogen peroxide from a hydrogen peroxide nozzle. The carton is then conveyed to a UV radiation source for irradiation of the carton with UV energy. The carton is then dried with heated air to flush/remove any residual hydrogen peroxide. The present invention sterilizes the carton allowing for filling of the carton with a desired product such as milk, juice or water. The invention allows for the efficacious use of hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of up to 53% while providing a carton having less than 0.5 ppm hydrogen peroxide.
48 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A method for sterilization of packaging at a sterilization station on a form, fill and seal machine, the method comprising:
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providing packaging to be sterilized at the sterilization station; partially erecting the packaging to form a partially formed carton; affixing a fitment on the partially formed carton; transforming to a vapor phase a solution of hydrogen peroxide having a concentration less than 53%; subjecting the partially formed carton with a fitment thereon to a predetermined quantity of vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide thereby creating a partially formed carton with the fitment thereon coated with a thin layer of hydrogen peroxide; condensing the hydrogen peroxide onto the partially formed carton with the fitment thereon; irradiating the coated partially formed carton with the fitment thereon with ultraviolet radiation for a predetermined set of time thereby creating an irradiated partially formed carton with the fitment thereon; and drying the irradiated partially formed carton with the fitment thereon with heated air for a predetermined amount of time thereby creating a sterilized partially formed carton with the fitment thereon having less than 0.5 parts per million residue of hydrogen peroxide.
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2. An apparatus for sterilizing a series of cartons being processed on a multiple station form, fill and seal packaging machine, each of the cartons partially formed and having sidewalls defining a hollow interior, the process occurring at a sterilization station on the packaging machine, the apparatus comprising:
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a conveyor assembly for moving each of the partially formed cartons to the sterilization station at a predetermined interval; a nozzle for subjecting each of the partially formed cartons to a predetermined quantity of vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide for the predetermined interval thereby applying a thin layer of hydrogen peroxide to the interior and the exposed exterior of each of the partially formed cartons; means for vaporizing hydrogen peroxide to form the vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide having a concentration lower than 53%, the vaporizing means in flow communication with the nozzle; a heater; an ultraviolet radiation source for irradiating each of the partially formed cartons with ultraviolet radiation for a multiple of the predetermined interval, the ultraviolet radiation source disposed above the conveyor assembly and having a reflector to widely disperse the ultraviolet radiation to provide irradiation of the interior and the exposed exterior of each of the partially formed cartons; and a hot air distributor capable of flowing hot air onto each of the partially formed cartons, wherein the ultraviolet radiation source is disposed between the heater and the hot air distributor.
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Specification