A down irradiation sterilization device and method

Abstract

This invention relates to a down irradiation sterilization apparatus and method. The sterilization apparatus includes an irradiation chamber; an irradiation source disposed within the irradiation chamber for emitting an electron beam; a conveyor running through the irradiation chamber; and a compression mechanism for reducing the thickness of the down, including two electrically driven push rods disposed within the irradiation chamber. The output shafts of the two push rods are equipped with pressure plates, which compress the down on the conveyor under the drive of the push rods. This invention significantly reduces the thickness of the down by physically compressing it while it is moving, thereby reducing both the time and equipment costs required for sterilization and greatly improving sterilization efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of down sterilization technology, specifically relating to a down irradiation sterilization device and method. Background Technology

[0002] Irradiation sterilization is an effective method that uses electromagnetic waves generated by ionizing radiation to kill most microorganisms on materials. Radiations used for sterilization include electron beams, X-rays, and gamma rays.

[0003] The penetrating power of electron beam irradiation sterilization is affected by many factors, primarily the quality, energy, duration, and thickness of the object being penetrated. Higher quality and energy of the radiation result in greater penetrating power, and longer irradiation times also increase penetration. Conversely, thicker objects experience reduced penetration. Therefore, to achieve high penetration, it is crucial to carefully control parameters such as radiation quality, energy, duration, and object thickness during the sterilization process.

[0004] The large volume and thickness of down feathers piled together directly affect the irradiation time. Without affecting the processing time, the irradiation energy must be increased, which requires more expensive equipment and consumes more energy, directly impacting production costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a down irradiation sterilization device and method to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] The present invention achieves the above objectives through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A down irradiation sterilization device, comprising:

[0008] Irradiation chamber;

[0009] An irradiation source located in an irradiation chamber is used to emit an electron beam;

[0010] A conveyor belt running through the irradiation chamber;

[0011] The compression mechanism for reducing down thickness includes two electric push rods located in the irradiation chamber. The output shafts of the two electric push rods are equipped with pressure plates, which compress the down on the conveyor under the drive of the electric push rods.

[0012] An elastic membrane is provided between the pressure plate and the conveyor, and gas is filled between the elastic membrane and the pressure plate.

[0013] Preferably, the pressure plate is provided with a baffle, the conveyor is provided with a plurality of levers that drive the baffle to move, and a return spring is provided between the electric push rod and the irradiation chamber. Under the drive of the levers, the pressure plate maintains the same horizontal moving speed as the down, so that the down will not have lateral displacement relative to the pressure plate when the pressure plate compresses the down.

[0014] Preferably, the pressure plate is made of glass or acrylic sheet.

[0015] Preferably, the thickness of the elastic membrane on the side closer to the conveyor feed is less than the thickness on the side farther from the conveyor feed, so that the elastic membrane moves toward the side closer to the conveyor feed.

[0016] Preferably, the pressure plate is provided with a limiting plate to block the unsterilized down.

[0017] A method for irradiation sterilization using the aforementioned down irradiation sterilization device includes the following steps:

[0018] S1: Place the unsterilized down at the feed end of the conveyor;

[0019] S2: The conveyor transports the unsterilized down to the irradiation source. At the same time, the electric push rod drives the pressure plate to approach the conveyor, squeezing the unsterilized down on the conveyor downwards, so that the thickness of the down is compressed. The irradiation source irradiates and sterilizes the compressed down.

[0020] S3: The electric push rod drives the pressure plate to move upward, and the conveyor drives the down to the discharge end of the conveyor. When the pressure plate moves away from the conveyor, the elastic membrane bulges up. The elastic membrane gradually separates from the down, so that the down will not scatter in the air.

[0021] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0022] This invention physically compresses moving down feathers, significantly reducing their thickness and thus lowering both the time and equipment costs required for sterilization, thereby greatly improving sterilization efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the sterilization device in this invention when compressing down;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the sterilization device in this invention when the down feathers are released;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a left view of the sterilization device in this invention.

[0026] In the diagram: 1. Irradiation chamber; 2. Irradiation source; 3. Conveyor; 4. Electric push rod; 5. Pressure plate; 6. Baffle; 7. Pulley; 8. Return spring; 9. Elastic membrane; 10. Down feathers; 11. Limiting plate. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present application will now be described in further detail. It should be noted that the following specific embodiments are only used to further illustrate the present application and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present application. Those skilled in the art can make some non-essential improvements and adjustments to the present application based on the above application content.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a down irradiation sterilization device includes:

[0030] Irradiation Chamber 1;

[0031] Irradiation source 2, located in irradiation chamber 1, is used to emit an electron beam;

[0032] Conveyor 3 runs through irradiation chamber 1;

[0033] The compression mechanism for reducing the thickness of down 10 includes two electric push rods 4 located in the irradiation chamber 1. The output shafts of the two electric push rods 4 are equipped with pressure plates 5. The pressure plates 5 compress the down 10 on the conveyor 3 under the drive of the electric push rods 4.

[0034] An elastic membrane 9 is provided between the pressure plate 5 and the conveyor 3, and gas is filled between the elastic membrane 9 and the pressure plate 5.

[0035] It should be noted that conveyor 3 transports the unsterilized down feathers 10 to the irradiation source 2. Simultaneously, electric push rod 4 moves pressure plate 5 closer to conveyor 3, squeezing the unsterilized down feathers 10 downwards, compressing their thickness. Irradiation source 2 then sterilizes the compressed down feathers 10. After irradiation, electric push rod 4 moves pressure plate 5 upwards, freeing the down feathers 10. Conveyor 3 then moves the down feathers 10 towards its discharge end. The untreated down feathers 10 then move to below the irradiation source 2, where pressure plate 5 compresses them again, creating a repetitive process until all down feathers 10 are sterilized. The upward movement of pressure plate 5 generates significant suction, which can easily lift down feathers 10, causing some sterilized and unsterilized down feathers to overlap, potentially leading to missed processing. Additionally, it can cause down feathers 10 to fall into the irradiation chamber 1, resulting in missing down feathers. By incorporating an elastic membrane 9, as the pressure plate 5 moves downward, the elastic membrane 9 gradually comes into contact with the down feathers 10, reducing the impact of the wind generated by the downward movement of the pressure plate 5 on the down feathers 10. When the pressure plate 5 moves downward to a set position, the elastic membrane 9 is compressed, and the gas inside is forced to the side. When the pressure plate 5 moves upward, the gas squeezed to the side returns to the space between the elastic membrane 9 and the pressure plate 5, causing the elastic membrane 9 to gradually expand. The elastic membrane 9 maintains a uniform separation speed from the down feathers 10, and the impact of the wind generated by the upward movement of the pressure plate 5 on the down feathers 10 is offset by the elastic membrane 9, keeping the down feathers 10 relatively still and thus reducing the scattering of the down feathers 10.

[0036] The elastic membrane 9 has a thinner side near the feeder 3 than the side away from the feeder 3. When compressed, the gas inside the elastic membrane 9 moves towards the side with the thinner thickness. That is, the elastic membrane 9 near the feeder 3 extends out of the pressure plate 5 and compresses the uncompressed down 10, causing the unsterilized down 10 near the pressure plate 5 to be pushed away from the pressure plate 5 by the elastic membrane 9. The pushing action of the elastic membrane 9 creates a certain distance between the unsterilized down 10 and the sterilized down 10, further reducing their cross-contamination.

[0037] The pressure plate 5 is provided with a limiting plate 11 to block the unsterilized down. The setting of the limiting plate 11 prevents the unsterilized down from crossing the limiting plate 11 to reach the top of the pressure plate 5, further ensuring that the unsterilized down cannot be mixed with the sterilized down.

[0038] Example 2

[0039] The pressure plate 5 is equipped with a baffle 6, and the conveyor 3 is equipped with several levers 7 that drive the baffle 6 to move. A return spring 8 is provided between the electric push rod 4 and the irradiation chamber 1. When the pressure plate 5 moves downwards, it causes the baffle 6 to move closer to the conveyor 3. After the levers 7 on the conveyor 3 contact the baffle 6, they drive the baffle 6 to move, causing the pressure plate 5 to move synchronously. At this time, the pressure plate 5 maintains the same moving speed as the down 10. The electric push rod 4 is hinged inside the irradiation chamber 1. When the electric push rod 4 rotates, it compresses the return spring 8. That is, the pressure plate 5 moves obliquely downwards, allowing the down 10 to adhere tightly to the conveyor 3 during compression, preventing the down 10 from scattering due to relative movement between the down 10 and the pressure plate 5. When the pressure plate 5 moves upwards, it causes the baffle 6 to disengage from the levers 7. Under the action of the return spring 8, the electric push rod 4 returns to its initial position, and the pressure plate 5 also returns to its initial position, allowing the pressure plate 5 to continue the next compression operation.

[0040] The pressure plate 5 is made of glass or acrylic sheet, which makes it easier for the electron beam to pass through and reduces the weakening of the electron beam's intensity.

[0041] Example 3

[0042] A method for irradiation sterilization using any of the above-mentioned down irradiation sterilization devices includes the following steps:

[0043] S1: Place the unsterilized down 10 at the feed end of the conveyor 3;

[0044] S2: The conveyor 3 transports the unsterilized down 10 to the irradiation source 2. At the same time, the electric push rod 4 drives the pressure plate 5 to approach the conveyor 3, squeezing the unsterilized down 10 on the conveyor 3 downward, so that the thickness of the down 10 is compressed. The irradiation source 2 irradiates and sterilizes the compressed down 10.

[0045] S3: The electric push rod 4 drives the pressure plate 5 to move upward, and the conveyor 3 drives the down 10 to the discharge end of the conveyor 3. When the pressure plate 5 moves away from the conveyor 3, the elastic membrane 9 bulges up. The elastic membrane 9 gradually separates from the down so that the down will not scatter in the air.

[0046] The embodiments described above are merely examples of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A down irradiation sterilization device, characterized in that, include: Irradiation chamber (1); An irradiation source (2) located in an irradiation chamber (1) is used to emit an electron beam; Conveyor (3) that runs through the irradiation chamber (1); The compression mechanism for reducing down thickness includes two electric push rods (4) located in the irradiation chamber (1). The output shafts of the two electric push rods (4) are equipped with pressure plates (5). The pressure plates (5) compress the down on the conveyor (3) under the drive of the electric push rods (4). An elastic membrane (9) is provided between the pressure plate (5) and the conveyor (3), and gas is filled between the elastic membrane (9) and the pressure plate (5); The pressure plate (5) is provided with a baffle (6), and the conveyor (3) is provided with a number of levers (7) that drive the baffle (6) to move. The electric push rod (4) is provided with a reset spring (8) between it and the irradiation chamber (1). Under the drive of the levers (7), the pressure plate (5) maintains the same horizontal moving speed as the down, so that when the pressure plate (5) compresses the down, the down will not have a lateral displacement relative to the pressure plate (5). The elastic membrane (9) has a thickness less on the side closer to the feeder (3) than on the side farther from the feeder (3), causing the elastic membrane (9) to move toward the side closer to the feeder (3).

2. The down irradiation sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure plate (5) is made of glass or acrylic sheet.

3. The down irradiation sterilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure plate (5) is provided with a limiting plate (11) to block the unsterilized down.

4. A method for irradiation sterilization using any one of the down irradiation sterilization devices according to claims 1-3, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Place the unsterilized down at the feed end of the conveyor (3); S2: The conveyor (3) transports the unsterilized down to the irradiation source (2), and at the same time the electric push rod (4) drives the pressure plate (5) to approach the conveyor (3), squeezing the unsterilized down on the conveyor (3) downward, so that the thickness of the down is compressed, and the irradiation source (2) irradiates and sterilizes the compressed down. S3: The electric push rod (4) drives the pressure plate (5) to move upward, and the conveyor (3) drives the down to the discharge end of the conveyor (3). When the pressure plate (5) moves away from the conveyor (3), the elastic membrane (9) bulges up. The elastic membrane (9) gradually separates from the down so that the down will not fly away in the air.

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