Electron beam sterilization unit for processing food packaging material
AssigneeTetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
InventorsLuca Poppi, Roberto Fontanesi, Marco Lavalle, Eros Ferrari
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electron beam sterilization unit for processing food packaging material, the unit having a frame; at least one electron beam emitter fitted to the frame, along the path of the material for processing, and having a flange for connection to the frame; and a locking device, which is fitted to the frame, and has thrust devices for exerting a lock force on the flange in a given first direction, and for locking the emitter, with respect to the frame, in a given work position, and actuating devices for activating the thrust devices and which are defined by toggle devices.
Claims18
An electron beam sterilization unit for processing food packaging material, the unit comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one electron beam emitter fitted to the frame, along a path of material for processing, the at least one electron beam emitter having a flange for connection to the frame;
- and
- a locking device fitted to the frame to lock the emitter with respect to the frame in a work position, the locking device comprising a thrust system configured to exert a lock force on said flange in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction along which the flange is inserted into the frame, and an actuation system configured to activate the thrust system, the actuation system comprising a rotatable toggle actuating system rotating at least a portion of the thrust system forward with respect to the frame to lock the flange of the emitter to the frame.
An electron beam sterilization unit for processing food packaging material, the unit comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one electron beam emitter fitted to the frame along a path of the food packaging material, the at least one electron beam emitter comprising:
- a casing housing a gun that accelerates electrons;
- a flange connectable to the frame;
- and
- a foil extending across a window in the flange;
- and
- a locking device fitted to the frame to lock the emitter relative to the frame in a work position, the locking device comprising an arm mounted on a rotatable shaft to rotate together with the shaft, the arm possessing an end adjacent the flange, the arm including a pressure finger at the end of the arm adjacent the flange to contact the flange as the shaft and flange are rotated and to urge the flange of the emitter into sealing contact with the frame.
An electron beam sterilization unit for processing food packaging material, the unit comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one electron beam emitter fitted to the frame, along a path of material for processing, the at least one electron beam emitter having a flange for connection to the frame;
- and
- a locking device fitted to the frame to lock the emitter with respect to the frame in a given work position, the locking device comprising a thrust system configured to exert a lock force on said flange in a first direction, and an actuation system configured to activate the thrust system, the actuation system comprising a toggle actuating system including at least one toggle mechanism comprising
- a crank that rotates about a fixed first axis crosswise to the first direction, and
- a rocker arm interposed between the crank and the frame, the rocker arm comprising a first arm and a second arm arranged in a V-shape and being hinged about a second axis, parallel to the first axis, to oscillate in a plane parallel to the first direction, the first arm being connected by a hinge pin to a free end of the crank to define a toggle with the crank, and to oscillate about a third axis parallel to the first axis, the second arm having a free end portion, which extends towards the frame and locks the flange to the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.