Sterilizing of opening devices of packages

A conveyor-based UV-LED system with adjustable patterns and diameters effectively sterilizes opening devices and package interiors, addressing the challenge of maintaining sterility in food packages by targeting protruding features and ensuring thorough microbial reduction.

WO2025168240A1 Publication Date: 2025-08-14TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
6 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/EP2024/083771
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-02-07
Filing Date
2024-11-27
Publication Date
2025-08-14

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing methods struggle to effectively sterilize the interior surfaces of opening devices with protruding features before they are attached to food packages, which is crucial for maintaining food safety and shelf life.

Method used

A conveyor-based UV-LED sterilization system with adjustable UV-LED patterns and diameters is used to sterilize the inner top surfaces of opening devices, followed by UV or peroxide treatment of the package interior and attachment flange, ensuring thorough sterilization.

Benefits of technology

The system achieves high-efficiency sterilization of opening devices and package interiors, reducing microbial contamination and extending food shelf life by ensuring sterile conditions.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present invention relates to an opening device sterilizer for sterilizing opening devices having an inner top surface comprising a circular protruding feature. The opening device sterilizer comprising a sterilizing unit arranged in a conveyor line configured to transport opening devices along a conveyance path. The sterilizing unit comprises a first set of UV-LEDs configured to, during operation, emit UV-light towards the inner top surface of the opening devices. The first set of UV-LEDs are arranged in a first pattern forming one or more rings of UV-LEDs, wherein a diameter of each ring of UV-LEDs in the first pattern corresponds to a diameter of the circular protruding features of the opening devices. Also a system comprising the opening device sterilizer and a method for sterilizing opening devices are presented.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art