Method for Sterilizing Unpackaged Consumable Items and Storage Containers and Outer Package Used for This

Abstract

A method for sterilising unpackaged consumable items by means of a treatment agent having a disinfectant, and using storage containers and outer packaging. In order that the abovementioned method can be designed and further developed so that contamination of the consumable items is reliably excluded, a certain quantity of unpackaged consumable items is stored together for a specified time in a storage container and the inside of the storage container is treated with a predetermined quantity of the treatment agent. In order to achieve long-term sterilisation a storage container serves to accommodate a plurality of unarranged, unpackaged consumable items, with the material of the storage container being plastic, wherein the storage container is designed as a bag, which after filling with consumable items and subsequent treatment is closed and then stored in a closed outer package.

Claims

1.-22. (canceled)

23. A method for sterilising packaged or partially packaged or partially sealed consumable items by means of a treatment agent having a disinfectant, comprising the steps of sterilizing a consumable item or an area of a consumable item, disposing in a first sealed environment such that a plurality of individually packaged consumable items or sealed areas of consumable items are stored together for a specified time in a container, and treating the inside of the container with a predetermined quantity of the treatment agent by a treatment carrier, treated with a sterilisation agent, being introduced into the container.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the treatment is performed mechanically.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the treatment is performed manually.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the treatment agent hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2) is used and wherein the concentration of the treatment agent is between 20% and 50%.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the concentration of the treatment agent is 35%.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the amount of the respective treatment with the treatment agent is, dependent upon the volume and the size of a surface of the consumable items, between 0.5 ml and 2 ml.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein the duration of the exposure to the treatment agent in the container is between 12 hours and 21 days.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the duration of the exposure to the treatment agent in the container is between 24 hours and 7 days.

31. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method is free from active removal of the treatment agent.

32. The method according to claim 23, wherein the treatment agent used is free from a reaction accelerator.

33. The method according to claim 23, wherein the treatment agent used contains a dye and brings about a discoloration of the container.

34. The method according to claim 23, wherein a specified quantity of consumable items is measured in individual parts and/or individual modules and wherein the quantity of individual parts and/or individual modules is 100.

35. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method is free from positioning of the consumable item or consumable items.

36. A container for accommodating a plurality of unarranged consumable items for use with the method according to claim 23, wherein a material for the container is plastic, wherein the container is designed as a bag which after filling with the consumable items and subsequent treatment is sealed and stored in a subsequently sealed outer packaging and wherein a treatment carrier, treated with an appropriate quantity of a sterilisation agent, is introduced into the container.

37. The container according to claim 36, wherein the plastic material has a set permeability so that condensation of the treatment agent inside the container is prevented.

38. The container according to claim 37, wherein a plastic bag in polyethylene is provided as the container.

39. The container according to claim 37, wherein a plastic bag in polyamide is provided as the container.

40. The container according to claim 36, wherein the bag is folded sealed at its open end.

41. An outer packaging for accommodating one or more container(s) for use with the method according to claim 23, wherein the material for the outer packaging cardboard is used, so that an outer carton with closable flaps results, which are folded down and suitably secured in order to close the outer carton and wherein the outer carton is partially wetted on its inside with a treatment agent or a treatment carrier, treated with a suitable quantity of a sterilisation agent, is introduced into the outer carton.

Description

[0044] The invention is explained in more detail in the following using a drawing showing a merely preferred embodiment. The drawing shows as follows in

[0045] FIG. 1 a perspective view of an empty storage container in an outer packaging;

[0046] FIG. 2 the filled storage container from FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 3 the closed storage container from FIG. 2 in the open outer packaging;

[0048] FIG. 4 the closed outer package; and

[0049] FIG. 5 a further embodiment concerning application of the sterilisation agent.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a storage container 1 designed as a plastic bag, inserted in an open outer carton 2 so that its top edge can be guided over the flaps of the outer carton 2. In this way contact between the consumable items 3 to be filled into the storage container 1 and the outer carton can be avoided. As consumable items by way of example opening and/or closing elements for subsequent use with beverage or food packaging are shown.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows the storage container 1 filled with the abovementioned consumable items 3, in which for sterilisation purposes a predetermined quantity of the treatment agent H.sub.2O.sub.2 is introduced. The storage container 1 is then closed, as shown in FIG. 3 and the outer carton 2 is finally closed as shown in FIG. 4.

[0052] Finally, FIG. 5 shows a further possibility for introducing the sterilisation agent, in which this takes place by means of an inserted sheet 4, to which various treatment carriers 5, treated with a sterilisation agent, have been applied.