Packaging machine comprising a disinfection/sterilization station, disinfection/sterilization station and method for disinfection/sterilizing in a packaging machine

A disinfection/sterilizing station for use in a packaging machine, comprising

• a supply section configured to provide gaseous sterilizing agent into open ends of ready-to-fill packaging containers passing the supply section, and
• a holding section arranged downstream the supply section,
• wherein the ready-to-fill packaging containers are controlled to be kept at the supply section such that the sterilizing agent will condense on areas of the ready-to-fill packaging container having a temperature below a dew point of the gaseous sterilizing agent,
• wherein the ready-to-fill packaging containers are controlled to be kept at the holding section such that the gaseous sterilizing agent will treat areas of the ready-to-fill packaging container having a temperature above the dew point of the sterilizing agent, and wherein the supply section is a single continuous tunnel structure, separated into an upper disinfection chamber and lower chamber by horizontal baffle plates, where the horizontal baffle plates prevent air from below the horizontal baffle plates to be drawn into the ready-to-fill packaging container, where an atmosphere of uniform concentration of the gaseous sterilizing agent is created in the upper disinfection chamber to establish a controlled and even gas distribution into the ready-to-fill packaging container.

A method for disinfection/sterilization in a packaging machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages, said method comprising:

• supplying a gaseous sterilizing agent to an area to be disinfected/sterilized,
• allowing the gaseous sterilizing agent to at least to some extent condensate at a first sub-area having a temperature below a dew point of the gaseous sterilizing agent,
• immediately after condensation, keeping a second sub-area, having a temperature above a dew point of the gaseous sterilizing agent, exposed to a remaining gaseous sterilizing agent;
• wherein the gaseous sterilizing agent is supplied via a single continuous tunnel structure, separated into an upper disinfection chamber and lower chamber by horizontal baffle plates, where the horizontal baffle plates prevent air from below the horizontal baffle plates to be drawn into a packaging container, where an atmosphere of uniform concentration of the gaseous sterilizing agent is created in the upper disinfection chamber to establish a controlled and even gas distribution into the packaging container.

A packaging machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages, comprising a disinfection/sterilization station configured to treat ready-to-fill packaging containers passing through said disinfection/sterilization station, wherein the disinfection/sterilization station comprises

• a supply section configured to provide gaseous sterilizing agent into open ends of the ready-to-fill packaging containers passing the supply section, and a holding section arranged downstream the supply section, wherein the supply section comprises a tunnel structure, and
• vertically arrange baffle plates and horizontally arranged baffle plates, wherein the vertically arranged baffle plates extend upwards from the horizontally arranged baffle plates, and wherein the horizontally arranged baffle plates are spaced apart in a width direction of the tunnel structure such that the packages ready-to-fill packaging containers can pass between the horizontally arranged baffle plates,
• whereby the packaging machine is configured to keep the ready-to-fill packaging containers at the supply section such that the gaseous sterilizing agent will condense on areas of the ready-to-fill packaging container having a temperature below a dew point of the gaseous sterilizing agent,
• whereby the packaging machine is configured to keep the ready-to-fill packaging containers at the holding section such that the gaseous sterilizing agent will treat areas of the ready-to-fill packaging container having a temperature above a dew point of the gaseous sterilizing agent.