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US 4,680,163 AGranted
Process and apparatus for sterilizing containers
AssigneeKolbus GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsBenno Blidschun, Ernst G. Lierke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Open-topped containers are sterilized by employing an electrostatic field to insure complete coating of the interior surface of such containers with a sterilizing agent. The sterilizing agent is supplied in liquid form, ultrasonically atomized, the thus formed droplets entrained in a stream of carrier gas and an electrical charge imparted to the entrained droplets so that they will be influenced by the electrostatic field created in the containers.
Claims31
A process for sterilizing containers comprising the steps of:
- agitating a liquid sterilizing agent at an ultrasonic frequency to cause atomization thereof whereby droplets are formed in a first zone;
- entraining the atomized sterilizing agent in a carrier gas stream;
- imparting an electrical charge to the droplets of atomized sterilizing agent;
- and
- depositing the charged droplets of atomized sterilizing agent on a surface of a container to be sterilized under the influence of an electrostatic field by positioning the container to be sterilized within a cavity defined by a first electrode, positioning a second electrode at least partly within the container to be sterilized, and establishing the electrostatic field in a second zone distinct from said first zone, said second zone being located between the first and second electrodes.
2 more elements
Apparatus for use in the sterilization of containers comprising:
- means for agitating a liquid sterilizing agent at a frequency in the ultrasound range to cause the atomization thereof whereby droplets are formed;
- means for entraining the atomized sterilizing agent in a stream of carrier gas;
- means for generating free electrons;
- means for directing the stream of carrier gas with entrained droplets of sterilizing agent past said means for generating free electrons whereby the droplets of sterilizing agent will become electrically charged;
- first electrode means, said first electrode means defining a cavity adapted for receiving a container to be sterilized;
- second electrode means, said second electrode means being configured to at least in part project into the cavity defined by said first electrode means so that the container to be sterilized is located between said first and second electrode means;
- means for applying a high voltage to said second electrode means to produce an electrostatic field between said first and second electrode means;
- and
- means for directing the stream comprising carrier gas with entrained charged droplets of sterilizing agent into a container to be sterilized received in said first electrode means defined cavity whereby the charged droplets will be directed onto a surface of the container.
6 more elements
Apparatus for use in the sterilization of containers comprising:
- means for agitating a liquid sterilizing agent at a frequency in the ultrasound range to cause the atomization thereof whereby droplets are formed;
- means for entraining the atomized sterilizing agent in a stream of carrier gas;
- first electrode means, said first electrode means defining a cavity adapted for receiving a container to be sterilized;
- means for generating free electrons, said electron generating means including second electrode means, said second electrode means having at least a part projecting into the cavity defined by said first electrode means so that a container to be sterilized received in said cavity will be located between said first and second electrode means, said projecting part of said second electrode means terminating in a point;
- means for establishing an electrostatic field between said first and second electrode means, said field establishing means applying a high voltage to said second electrode means whereby free electrons will be generated in the vicinity of said point termination of said second electrode means;
- and
- means for directing the stream of carrier gas with entrained droplets of sterilizing agent past said point termination of said second electrode means whereby the droplets of sterilizing agent will become electrically charged and will be directed by said electrostatic field onto a surface of the container, said directing means defining a flow path for said stream and including third electrode means which defines the discharge end of a conduit through which said stream is discharged into the container, said third electrode means being generally coaxial with said second electrode means, said second electrode means extending into the said cavity a greater distance than said third electrode means.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.