Device for sterilizing plastic parisons

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for sterilizing plastic parisons (1), with a sterilization chamber (3) and a transport device (2) disposed at least partially inside the sterilization chamber (3) for moving the plastic parisons (1) within the sterilization chamber (3), wherein the transport device (2) has at least one gripping system (4) for engaging round and supporting the plastic parisons (1) by means of a gripping clamp (41), wherein the gripping system (4) has a displacement means (5) for displacement during sterilization within the sterilization chamber of contact surfaces (1A) of the plastic parisons (1) which are shielded by the gripping system (4) from a sterilizing medium and/or sterilizing radiation.

Claims

1. A device for sterilizing containers, with a sterilization chamber and a transport device disposed at least partially inside the sterilization chamber for moving the containers within the sterilization chamber, wherein the transport device has at least one gripping system for engaging round and supporting the containers by means of a gripping clamp, wherein the gripping system has a displacement means to allow exposure to an external surface of at least one contact surface of the plastic parisons which was previously shielded by the gripping system from a sterilizing medium and/or sterilizing radiation during sterilization within the sterilization chamber, wherein the displacement means is formed with at least one drive roller which is disposed rotatably within the gripping clamp and is in force-fit engagement with the container, and wherein by means of a rotation of the drive roller about its axis of rotation, relative to gripping arms of the gripping clamp, in one direction of rotation, a rotation of the container around its axis of rotation, relative to the gripping arms can be effected, and wherein the two directions of rotation are in each case opposed.

2. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive roller (51) is rotatable by means of a pneumatic, mechanical, electrical or hydraulic drive.

3. A device (100) for sterilizing containers (1), with a sterilization chamber (3) and a transport device (2) disposed at least partially inside the sterilization chamber (3) for moving the containers (1) within the sterilization chamber (3), wherein the transport device (2) has at least one gripping system (4) for engaging round and supporting the container (1) by means of a gripping clamp (41), wherein the gripping system (4) has a displacement means (5) for displacement during sterilization within the sterilization chamber of contact surfaces (1A) on an external surface (1B) of the container (1) which are shielded by the gripping system (4) from a sterilizing medium and/or sterilizing radiation, wherein the displacement means (5) is formed with at least one friction (52) rail, wherein the container (1) is guidable along this friction rail (52) within the sterilization chamber (3), wherein by means of a force-fit engagement between the container (1) and the friction rail (52) the container (1) is rotatable about its axis of rotation within the gripping clamp.

4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a pair of gripping clamps (41, 42) are disposed on different clamp joints (41A, 42A) which lie opposite one another in the horizontal direction (H), wherein the clamp joint (42A) of the further gripping clamp (42) is fastened on a further transport device (6) which is disposed at least partially within the sterilization chamber (3).

5. A device (100) for sterilizing containers (1), with a sterilization chamber (3) and a transport device (2) disposed at least partially inside the sterilization chamber (3) for moving the container (1) within the sterilization chamber (3), wherein the transport device (2) has at least one gripping system (4) for engaging round and supporting the container (1) by means of a gripping clamp (41), wherein the gripping system (4) has a displacement means (5) for displacement during sterilization within the sterilization chamber of contact surfaces (1A) on an external surface (1B) of the container (1) which are shielded by the gripping system (4) from a sterilizing medium and/or sterilizing radiation, wherein the displacement means (5) is formed with at least one further gripping clamp (42), wherein both gripping clamps (41, 42) are disposed so that they overlap at least partially in the vertical direction (V) and are spaced apart from each another in this direction, and during the sterilization at least one gripping clamp is operatable in an open position and a gripping clamp which is different therefrom is operatable in a closed position, and after a predeterminable partial sterilization time the respective other gripping clamp is operatable in an open position or in a closed position.

6. The device (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein clamp joints (41A, 42A) of the gripping clamps (41, 42) are disposed above one another in the vertical direction, wherein respective clamp openings (410A, 420A) of the two gripping clamps (41, 42) overlap at least partially in the vertical direction (V).

7. The device (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gripping clamps (41, 42) are disposed on different clamp joints (41A, 42A) which lie opposite one another in the horizontal direction (H), wherein the clamp joint (42A) of the further gripping clamp (42) is fastened on a further transport device (6) which is disposed at least partially within the sterilization chamber (3).

8. A method for sterilizing containers (1), in which containers (1) are moved by means of a transport device (2) disposed at least partially inside the sterilization chamber (3), wherein the transport device (2) has at least one gripping system (4) for engaging round and supporting the plastic parisons (1) by means of a gripping clamp (41), wherein, during a sterilization within the sterilization chamber, after expiry of a predeterminable partial sterilization time at least one contact surface (1A) of the containers (1) which was previously shielded by the gripping system (4) from a sterilizing medium and/or sterilizing radiation is allowed exposure to an external surface (1B) by a displacement means (5).

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the containers are rotated relative to the gripping system holding the containers with respect to a longitudinal axis of the containers.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIGS. 1A to 1G show, in various schematic perspective views, embodiments of a device described here and also method steps for sterilizing plastic parisons.

(2) In the embodiments and in the Figures the same or equivalent components are in each case provided with the same reference signs. The illustrated elements should be regarded as drawn to scale, on the contrary, individual elements may be shown as excessively large to aid understanding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) FIG. 1A shows a schematic plan view of a device 100 described here for sterilizing plastic parisons 1. The device 100 has a sterilization chamber 3 and a transport device 2 which is disposed (in particular rotatably) completely inside the sterilization chamber 3 for moving the plastic parisons 1 within the sterilization chamber 3. Each of the plastic parisons 1 is clamped around by gripping arms 40 of a respective gripping clamp 41. In this case clamp joints 41A of the gripping clamps 41 are firmly fixed mechanically along an arcuate path on the transport device 2. Furthermore in the embodiment of FIG. 1A it can be seen that the gripping system has a displacement means 5 for displacement, during sterilization within the sterilization chamber 3, of contact surfaces 1A on an external surface 1B of the plastic parisons 1 which are shielded by the gripping system 4 from a sterilizing medium.

(4) In this case the displacement means 5 are constructed in each case in the form of a drive roller 51 which is disposed rotatable within each gripping clamp 41 and is in non-positive engagement with the plastic parison 1. In this case the drive roller 51 can be set in rotation for example by means of a pneumatic, mechanical, electrical or hydraulic drive. By means of a rotation of the drive roller 51 about its axis of rotation, relative to the gripping arms 40 of the gripping clamp 41 in one direction of rotation, a rotation of the plastic parison 1 about its axis of rotation, relative to the gripping arms 40 in the opposite direction is produced.

(5) As can be seen from FIG. 1A, the drive roller 51 rotates in the direction towards the right, whilst the plastic parison 1 moves in the direction towards the left. In this case contact surfaces 1A, which are formed relative to the external surface 1B of the plastic parison 1 between the plastic parison 1 and the gripping arms 40 of the gripping clamps 41 on the external surface 1B, and which are concealed from a sterilizing means, are displaced on the outside surface 1B of the plastic parison 1. In this respect during the rotation the contact surfaces 1A are continuously shifted on the external surface 1B of the plastic parison 1, so that all regions of the external surface 1B of the plastic parison 1 are sterilized.

(6) The reference sign 8 identifies schematically a radiation device which applies electrons to the plastic parisons for the purpose of sterilizing them. This application of electrons or generally charge carriers is referred to in the context of the present application as irradiation. Accordingly a charge carrier emitter is also regarded as a radiation device. In this case the said clean room which surrounds the plastic parisons during their sterilization can be enclosed in a stationary housing. However it would also be possible for the clean room to surround the transport path of the plastic parisons in the manner of an annular channel. The clean room can also be enclosed by at least one stationary wall and a wall which is movable relative to this stationary wall, wherein a sealing means, for instance like a so-called water lock, is preferably disposed between this stationary wall and the movable wall.

(7) In FIG. 1B the gripping system 4 shown in FIG. 1A and the drive roller 51 are again shown in detail.

(8) FIG. 1C shows a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of the device 100 described here, wherein instead of the drive roller 51 a friction rail 52 is implemented for rotation of the plastic parisons 1 inside the gripping clamps 41 during the engagement and support of the plastic parisons 1 by the gripping clamps 41. It can be seen that the friction rail 52 is disposed in the horizontal direction H opposite the respective clamp joints 41A. If the plastic parisons 1 are now guided along through the transport device 2 on the friction rail 52, that is to say past an external surface of the friction rail 52 facing the transport device 2, the plastic parisons 1 are set in rotation during the griping within the gripping clamps 41. A twisting angle of the plastic parisons 1 is therefore fixed directly by a length of the friction rail 52. By means of such a friction rail 52 it is therefore possible in a particularly simply manner to effect a displacement of the contact surfaces 1A.

(9) FIGS. 1D and 1E show a schematic plan view and side view of a further embodiment of a device 100 described here, in which in contrast to the aforementioned embodiments the displacement means 5 has a further gripping clamp 42. Both gripping clamps 41, 42 are disposed so that they are partially overlapping in the vertical direction V (see FIG. 1E) and are spaced apart relative to one another in this vertical direction V. During sterilization at least one of the two gripping clamps 41, 42 is operated in a closed position. This means that in this closed position one of the two gripping clamps engages round and supports the respective plastic parison 1. Up to the expiry of a predeterminable partial sterilization time the gripping clamp 41 is for example in this closed position, whereas up to this time the further gripping clamp 42 is still operated in the open position.

(10) At the expiry of the partial sterilization time engagement takes place. During this transfer time period both gripping clamps 41, 42 are in the closed position. After expiry of the transfer time period only the further gripping clamp 42 remains in the closed position and the gripping clamp 41 is now moved into the open position. In other words the plastic parison 1 is transferred from the gripping clamp 41 to the further gripping clamp 42, wherein during the transfer within the sterilization chamber 3 the plastic parison 1 always held by one of the two gripping clamps 41, 42. Furthermore it can be seen that both the clamp joint 41A of the gripping clamp 41 and also a clamp joint 42A of the further gripping clamp 42 are disposed above one another in the vertical direction V and respective clamp openings 410A, 420A of the two gripping clamp 41, 42 overlap at least partially in the vertical direction V. In this arrangement both gripping clamps 41, 42 are mechanically fastened on the same transport device 2.

(11) FIGS. 1F and 1G show a schematic plan view and side view of a further embodiment of a device 100 which is described here. In contrast to the device 100 shown in FIGS. 1D and 1E, the device 100 of FIGS. 1F and 1G exhibits the difference that the further gripping clamp 42 is mounted a further transport device 6 and is mechanically secured thereto. The transport devices 2 and 6 are synchronised with one another, in particular electrically or mechanically synchronised. In this respect the clamp joints 41A and the clamp joints 42A are in each opposed. Therefore by means of the device described in this embodiment different transport devices can be combined with one another in order to displace the contact surfaces 1A of the plastic parisons 1 during the sterilization.

(12) The invention is not limited by the description with reference to the embodiments. On the contrary, the invention encompasses each new feature as well as any combination of features, in particular including any combination of features in the claims, even if this feature or this combination itself is not explicitly given in the claims or in the embodiments.

(13) The applicant reserves the right to claim all the features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention in so far as they are individually or in combination novel over the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(14) V vertical direction H horizontal direction 1 plastic parison 1A contact surfaces 1B external surface of the plastic parison 2 transport device 3 sterilization chamber 4 gripping system 5 displacement means 6 further transport device 8 radiation device 40 gripping arms 41, 42 gripping clamps 41A, 41B clamp joints 410A, 410B clamp openings 51 drive roller 52 friction rail 100 device 410A clamp opening 420A clamp opening