Patent · US Expired

Infeed sterilizer for a packaging machine

US6058678A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
10References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 28, 1998
Grant dateMay 9, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 28, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65B55/04
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An infeed sterilizer for a packaging machine that allows for the entire sterilization of an erected carton blank prior to bottom forming. The infeed sterilizer includes a nip roller, a carousel, sterilization means and a sterilization chamber. The carousel has a plurality of carriers for temporarily holding a plurality of erected carton blanks wherein each erected carton blank has both the top and bottom ends open and unfolded or sealed. The sterilization means may be hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet energy, hot air, electron beams, any combination thereof. The sterilization chamber may be pressurized with sterile air to reduce contamination/recontamination of the erected carton blanks. The sterilized cartons may be transferred to a form and fill carousel disposed above the infeed sterilizer for bottom forming and filling.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.