Apparatus and method of radiation-based sterilization of container closures

US9107968B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KRONES AG · DE

Inventors

• Josef Knott · Schierling, DE
• Guenter Frankenberger · Altötting, DE
• Tino Sickert · Dresden, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 9, 2013
• Grant date: Aug 18, 2015
• Expiry date: Dec 29, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61L2202/23
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A closure sterilization arrangement for container closures comprises a conveying device that conveys the container closures separately along a conveying path so that they avoid touching one another. An irradiation device generates a radiation sterilizing the container closures and acts upon the container closures with the radiation during the conveying thereof by the conveying device. A rotating device rotates the container closures about a pre-set axis of rotation at least for a time period during their conveying by the conveying device. The irradiation device is arranged with respect to the conveying path of the container closures so that the radiation issuing from the irradiation device strikes both an external peripheral wall of the container closures and an internal region of the container closures, and the irradiation device irradiates the container closures from at least two different radiation directions.