Electron beam emitter for sterilizing containers
AssigneeAdvanced Electron Beams, Inc.
InventorTzvi Avnery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electron beam emitter including a vacuum chamber having a width. An electron generator can be positioned within the vacuum chamber for generating electrons. An elongate nozzle can extend from the vacuum chamber along a longitudinal axis and have an exit window at a distal end of the nozzle. The nozzle can have a width that is less than the width of the vacuum chamber. The electron generator can be shaped and dimensioned, and positioned with the vacuum chamber to form and direct a narrow electron beam that enters and travels through the nozzle, and exits out the exit window.
Claims18
A method of irradiating an interior of a bottle for sterilizing the interior of the bottle, the bottle having a neck, the method comprising:
- generating electrons with an electron generator positioned within a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber having a width;
- extending an elongated nozzle from the vacuum chamber along a longitudal axis, the nozzle having an exit window at a distal end of the nozzle, the nozzle having a width that is less than the width of the vacuum chamber;
- forming and directing an electron beam that enters and travels through the nozzle, and exits out the exit window;
- inserting the nozzle through the neck of the bottle and irradiating the interior with the electron beam;
- and
- moving the bottle and the nozzle relative to each other during irradiation to an extent that depends upon a size of the bottle.
A method of irradiating an interior of a bottle for sterilizing the interior of the bottle, the bottle having a neck, the method comprising:
- generating electrons with an electron generator positioned within a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber having a width;
- extending an elongated nozzle from the vacuum chamber along a longitudal axis, the nozzle having an exit window at a distal end of the nozzle, the nozzle having a width that is less than the width of the vacuum chamber;
- forming and directing an electron beam that enters and travels through the nozzle, and exits out the exit window;
- inserting the nozzle through the neck of the bottle and irradiating the interior with the electron beam;
- and
- moving the bottle and the nozzle relative to each other during irradiation to an extent that depends upon a diameter of the bottle.
A method of irradiating an interior of a bottle for sterilizing, the bottle having a neck, the method comprising:
- generating electrons with an electron generator positioned within a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber having a width;
- extending an elongated nozzle from the vacuum chamber along a longitudal axis, the nozzle having an exit window at a distal end of the nozzle, the nozzle having a width that is less than the width of the vacuum chamber;
- forming an electron beam that enters and travels through the nozzle, and exits out the exit window;
- inserting the nozzle through the neck of the bottle and irradiating the interior with the electron beam;
- and
- moving the bottle and the nozzle relative to each other during irradiation that depends upon an intensity of the electron beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.