Apparatus for reducing the presence of microorganisms on web materials

Abstract

An apparatus (20) for reducing the presence of microorganisms on a web material (12), for example in a system for manufacturing packages, includes a housing (21) defining an interior space and a microorganism reduction arrangement within the interior space. Inlet and outlet ports (24) are disposed on the housing such that the web material (12) can travel along a travel path through the interior space between the inlet and outlet ports. The inlet and outlet ports (24) are elongated and include a seal (24') defining an elongated slit (24'') for flexural engagement with the web material (12). The apparatus further includes a spacer (201) disposed within the elongated slit (24'') of one of the inlet and outlet ports (24) to reduce engagement between the seal (24') and a flat surface (12'') at one longitudinal end (12') of the web material (12).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for reducing the presence of microorganisms on web materials, particularly web materials used in the manufacture of packaging. [Background technology]

[0002] During the manufacture of certain types of packaging, such as packaging containing food, it is extremely important to reduce the presence of microorganisms. This is achieved by pasteurization or sterilization.

[0003] One type of packaging is made from a web of material that is cut into the shape of the package and filled with the food product. The web material may be, for example, a fiber-based laminate including a core layer of paper or paperboard and one or more barrier layers of plastic. The packages are produced on a manufacturing line that includes one or more conventional filling machines.

[0004] Sterilization or disinfection may be performed at various stages of a production line. It is common to disinfect incoming web material to prevent contamination of downstream equipment in the production line. Sterilization may be performed by feeding the web material through a sterilization device or unit, where it undergoes sterilization. The port of the sterilization device may be provided with a flex seal that engages the passing web material so that sterilization occurs in a substantially closed space within the housing; alternatively or additionally, a corresponding sterilization device may be located in the production line to perform sterilization of the web material.

[0005] Industrial packaging production is automated and designed for high-volume production. Stopping production for service or maintenance is costly. One problem is the accumulation of dust inside or on the sterilization equipment. Dust accumulation inside the equipment can interfere with the sterilization of the web material. This requires the equipment to be periodically disassembled and cleaned, which is time-consuming and causes production to stop. It is desirable to reduce the need for equipment cleaning. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome one or more of the limitations identified in the prior art above.

[0007] One such object is to provide an apparatus that reduces the presence of microorganisms on a web material, where reducing the presence of microorganisms means reducing the presence of live microorganisms and can include both disinfection and sterilization.

[0008] Another object is to provide a device that requires less downtime for cleaning.

[0009] One or more of these objects, as well as further objects that may become apparent from the following description, are at least partially achieved by an apparatus for reducing the presence of microorganisms on a web material and a package manufacturing system according to the independent claims, embodiments of which are defined by the dependent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A first aspect relates to an apparatus for reducing the presence of microorganisms on a web material having opposing flat surfaces and longitudinal edges joining the opposing flat surfaces. The apparatus includes a housing defining an interior space and an inlet port and an outlet port disposed on the housing to allow the web material to move along a path of travel through the interior space between the inlet port and the outlet port. The inlet port and the outlet port each include a seal that is elongated and defines an elongated slit for flexural engagement with the web material. The apparatus further includes a structure for reducing the presence of microorganisms on the web material within the interior space. The apparatus further includes a spacer disposed within the elongated slit of the inlet port or the outlet port to reduce engagement between the seal and the flat surface of the web material at one of the longitudinal edges of the web material.

[0011] In some embodiments, the seal comprises a pair of opposing lips arranged to define an elongated slit, with the spacer disposed between and abutting the opposing lips.

[0012] In some embodiments, the spacer extends along the elongate slit and has opposing side portions that abut the opposing lips, locally spacing the opposing lips from one another.

[0013] In some embodiments, the spacer has a surface arranged to face one of the longitudinal ends, with a center point of the surface aligned with the centerline of the elongated slit.

[0014] In some embodiments, the distance between opposing sides of the spacer is at least about 70% of the thickness of the web material, or equal to the thickness of the web material, or greater than the thickness of the web material.

[0015] In some embodiments, the web material comprises a fibrous material.

[0016] In some embodiments, the fibrous material is exposed at one of the longitudinal ends of the web material.

[0017] In some embodiments, the spacers are positioned to define the width of an elongated passage for the web material passing through the elongated slit.

[0018] In some embodiments, the spacer is positioned along the elongate slit to extend from the elongate passage to an end of the elongate slit.

[0019] In some embodiments, the distance between the spacer and the end of the elongated slit is 0 to 5 mm, preferably 0 to 3 mm.

[0020] In some embodiments, the spacer comprises an end face arranged to face one of the longitudinal edges of the web material at a distance of 0.1 to 5 mm, preferably 0.5 to 3 mm.

[0021] In some embodiments, the spacer is part of a removable unit and includes a mounting portion for attachably mounting to the housing.

[0022] In some embodiments, the removable unit is included in a kit of removable units, and the spacers of the removable units of the kit vary in at least one of thickness, width, or position relative to the mounting portion, with the thickness defining the extent of the spacer laterally relative to the elongated slit and the width defining the extent of the spacer along the elongated slit.

[0023] In some embodiments, the mounting portion is attached to the housing such that an end of the spacer protrudes through the elongated slit.

[0024] In some embodiments, the edges have rounded edges when viewed perpendicular to the planar surface of the web material.

[0025] In some embodiments, a spacer is positioned within the elongated slit of the outlet port, and the device comprises a further spacer positioned within the elongated slit of the inlet port to reduce engagement between the seal of the inlet port and the flat surface of the web material at one of the longitudinal ends of the web material.

[0026] In some embodiments, the arrangement is operable to reduce the presence of microorganisms on the web material by providing one or more of heat, a disinfectant, a sterilant, ultraviolet light, or an electron beam.

[0027] A second aspect relates to a system for manufacturing packages, the system comprising: a supply of web material; an apparatus according to the first aspect or any of its embodiments, arranged to receive the web material from the supply apparatus and operable to reduce the presence of microorganisms on the web material; and a filler configured to receive the web material from the apparatus and process the web material into packages.

[0028] Still other objects, embodiments and aspects, as well as additional features and advantages, will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying schematic drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a handling system for manufacturing packages. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a rolled web material used in the system of FIG. 1A. [Figure 2] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of an example of a sterilization device in the operation system of FIG. 1A. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary sterilizer looking toward the exit port before the spacer is installed. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2B is a side view of the sterilizer after the spacer has been installed and towards the outlet port of FIG. 2A. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3B. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an example of a sterilizer having a narrow spacer. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an example of a sterilizer having a narrow spacer. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. [Figure 5A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a sterilization device with an expanding spacer. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5A. [Figure 5C] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the sterilization device of FIG. 5A. [Figure 6A] FIG. 5B is a side view looking towards the outlet port of the sterilizer of FIG. 5A in operation. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6A. [Figure 6C] FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6A. [Figure 6D] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the sterilization device of FIG. 6A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. While not all embodiments are shown in the drawings, some embodiments are shown. Indeed, the subject matter of this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

[0031] Where possible, any of the advantages, features, functions, devices, and / or operational aspects of any of the embodiments described and / or contemplated herein may be included in any of the other embodiments described and / or contemplated herein, and / or vice versa. Additionally, where possible, terms used in the singular herein are intended to include the plural and / or vice versa, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, the terms "a" and / or "an" are intended to mean "at least one" or "one or more," although the expressions "at least one" or "one or more" are also used herein. The terms "multiple," "plural," and "plurality" are intended to mean the provision of two or more elements. The term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements. Although terms such as "first," "second," etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0032] Well-known functions or structures may not be described in detail for the sake of brevity and / or clarity. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0033] Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0034] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an example of a system 1 for manufacturing packages 50. Packages 50 may contain any type of product. In the following, it is assumed that packages 50 are filled with a food product. In the illustrated example, manufacturing system 1 includes a web feeding apparatus 10, an apparatus 20 for reducing the presence of microorganisms, and a filling machine 30. Web feeding apparatus 10 includes a roll 11 of web material 12, which is fed through apparatus 20 to filling machine 30. Filling machine 30 is configured to form a portion of web material 12 into a container, fill the container, and seal the filled container to produce package 50. Typically, filling machine 30 is configured to cut, fold, and form the incoming web material into a container. Filling machine 30 may be of any conventional type, be a unitary structure, or a combination of physically separate units.

[0035] The web material 12 ("web") is a flat sheet of any suitable material. This disclosure is not limited to a particular composition of the web 12. However, in many systems for manufacturing packages, the web 12 comprises a cellulosic material, such as paper or paperboard, which may or may not be laminated on one or both sides with one or more layers of plastic material and / or metal. Cellulosic materials contain fibers. In the context of this disclosure, any type of fiber-containing material is a "fibrous material." The web 12 is typically supplied to the web supply apparatus 10 in a rolled state. A roll 11 of such a web material is shown in FIG. 1B. The web 12 unwound from the roll 11 has two opposing flat surfaces 12" that are joined by longitudinal edges 12'. In other words, the flat surfaces 12" are bounded along the web 12 by the edges 12'.

[0036] Apparatus 20 is configured to receive web 12 and reduce the presence of microorganisms thereon. As used herein, the term "microorganism" refers to any microscopic organism, including, but not limited to, bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, viruses, prions, etc. In some embodiments, apparatus 20 may be configured to disinfect or sterilize web 12. As used herein, "disinfection" refers to a process that inactivates or destroys many, but not necessarily all, microorganisms, while "sterilization" refers to a process that removes, kills, or inactivates all microorganisms. For simplicity, apparatus 20 will be referred to hereinafter as a "disinfection apparatus," although it may alternatively be used for sterilization.

[0037] One of the reasons for installing the sterilization device 20 is to prevent the growth of microorganisms in downstream equipment in the manufacturing system 1. This is particularly relevant in the packaging of food products, which have high hygiene requirements. The sterilization device 20 does not have to be installed upstream of the filling machine 30 as shown in FIG. 1A, but may be installed at any position within the filling machine 30. It should also be noted that the sterilization device 20 may be complemented by further devices for sterilization or disinfection within the filling machine 30.

[0038] The manufacturing system 1 is operated by one or more control units, represented generally in Figure 1A by control unit 40. Control unit 40 is configured to provide control signals and receive feedback signals, generally designated S1, S2, and S3, and represented in Figure 1A by double-headed arrows (dotted lines).

[0039] As indicated by arrow 100, web 12 is fed from feeding device 10, through sterilization device 20, and into filling machine 30. It will be understood that system 1 may include one or more web feeding mechanisms, for example within filling machine 30 and / or as separate components.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a sterilization apparatus 20 in operation. The sterilization apparatus 20 includes a housing 21 defining an interior space 22 within which the web 12 is sterilized or sterilized. An inlet port 23 and an outlet port 24 are disposed in the housing 21 for receiving the web 12. Each port 23, 24 is elongated and adapted to pass the web 12 therethrough. The web 12 enters the apparatus 20 through the inlet port 23, traverses the space 22 in a travel path, and exits the apparatus 20 through the outlet port 24. Typically, the web 12 is continuously fed through the apparatus 20 in a feed direction 100 during operation of the filling machine 30. The apparatus 20 includes an arrangement 25 for reducing the presence of microorganisms on the web 12. For simplicity, the arrangement 25 will hereinafter be referred to as a "microbial mitigation arrangement" or MMA. In FIG. 2, the MMA 25 is represented by two treatment units, one above and one below the travel path of the web 12 within the space 22. Each treatment unit may be a radiation irradiator or a port for injection of a disinfecting / sterilizing substance. Any number of treatment units may be disposed within space 22. In some embodiments, MMA 25 is configured to subject web 12 to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, electron beam radiation, one or more germicides, one or more sterilizers, or heat, or any combination thereof. Non-limiting examples of commonly used germicides and sterilants include hydrogen peroxide, ethylene oxide, peracetic acid, formaldehyde, ozone, chlorine dioxide, etc.

[0041] Although not shown in FIG. 2, web guide units may be positioned upstream and / or downstream of the sterilizer 20 to accurately position the web 12 relative to the inlet port 23 and the outlet port 24; such web guide units are well known in the art.

[0042] It should also be noted that the path of travel of the web 12 through the sterilizer 20 need not be horizontal, but may have any orientation relative to the direction of gravity. Thus, the sterilizer 20 of Figure 2 may have any orientation.

[0043] The disinfection or sterilization performed within the device 20 typically involves the inclusion of substances potentially harmful to the human body. These substances may be provided by the MMA 25 or may be generated during disinfection / sterilization. Therefore, it is necessary to mitigate the uncontrolled release of substances from the space 22 within the device 20 to the surrounding environment. For this purpose, the ports 23, 24 are provided with flexible sealing elements. An example of such a port is shown in FIG. 3A, a partial side view of the device 20 of FIG. 2, depicting the exit port 24. The web is not present in FIG. 3A. The exit port 24 is formed by an access opening 124 in the housing 21. A seal 24' is attached to cover the access opening 124. The seal 24' defines an elongated slit 24'' extending between two slit ends 124''. In the illustrated example, the slit 24'' has a straight shape to match the flat shape of the web 12. The slit 24'' is defined between an upper lip 24A and a lower lip 24B. At least one of lips 24A, 24B is flexible to accommodate web 12 within slit 24". In one embodiment, seal 24' is one piece and made of a flexible material, such as rubber or silicone, and slit 24" is provided as a cut through the flexible material. In the embodiments described below, it is assumed that both lips 24A, 24B are flexible.

[0044] FIG. 3B is a side view corresponding to FIG. 3A, but with the web 12 positioned to extend through the seal 24'. The seal 24' is flexibly engaged with the web 12 by the flexing of the lips 24A and 24B. Applicant has identified a potential problem with this configuration of the sterilizer 20: significant dust accumulation inside the housing 21, for example, inside the seal 24'. The accumulated dust impacts the performance of the device 20 and must be periodically removed by manual cleaning. Manual cleaning is time-consuming because it requires disassembling and reassembling the housing 21. To reduce downtime of the manufacturing system 1, the dust-containing device 20 can be replaced with an identical device 20 and cleaned offline. However, this replacement process is also time-consuming and leads to downtime of the manufacturing system 1. Applicant has also observed similar dust accumulation on the outside of the inlet port 23. Because this dust is outside the housing 21, it is easily removed. Applicant has concluded that the dust is primarily due to abrasion resulting from the closure of slits 24'' at end 12' of web 12. Abrasion results in dust when web 12 is made of fibrous material, especially when the fibrous material is exposed at end 12'. In the example of FIG. 3B, right end 12' of web 12 is uncoated, exposing the fibrous material and making it more susceptible to abrasion.

[0045] After extensive experimentation, applicant has discovered a simple yet effective solution to this problem. This solution involves placing a spacer 201 in the slit 24'' adjacent to the longitudinal edge 12', which is susceptible to wear, to reduce engagement between the seal 24' and the flat surface 12'' of the web 12 at this longitudinal edge 12', as shown in FIG. 3B. The spacer 201 is fixed and functions as a separating, distance-retaining, or spacing element. In the example of FIG. 3B, the spacer 201 is positioned between and abuts the lips 24A, 24B of the seal 24'. The spacer 201 is positioned to the left of the spacer 201 in FIG. 3B to define an elongated passage for the web 12 through the slit 24''. FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of the boxed portion 3C in FIG. 3B. In the illustrated example, the spacer 201 is positioned approximately abutting the lip surfaces 24A', 24B' that define the slit 24''. Spacer 201 separates lips 24A, 24B to reduce forces acting on web 12 at the bordered area (dashed line) in FIG. 3B, particularly at end 12''' of flat surface 12'' adjacent end 12'. In the illustrated embodiment, spacer 201 is configured to separate lips 24A, 24B to effectively eliminate contact between seal 24' on either side of web 12 and end portion 12''.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer 201 has opposing side surfaces 201'' configured to face the lips 24A, 24B and an end surface 201' configured to face the elongated passageway. Thus, the end surface 201' faces the end 12' of the web 12 when the web 12 is positioned within the passageway, as shown in FIGS. 3B-3C . In the illustrated embodiment, the opposing side surfaces 201'' are flat and parallel to one another, which may reduce stress in the seal 24'' because forces acting on the lips 24A, 24B are distributed along the side surfaces 201''. However, other shapes and arrangements of the opposing side surfaces 201'' are contemplated. For example, the side surfaces 201'' may be curved or angled away from the end surface 201'. Regardless of the shape, the spacer 201 may be positioned such that its opposing side surfaces 201'' extend along the slit 24'' and are positioned in abutment with the lips 24A, 24B, locally spacing the lips 24A, 24B from one another.

[0047] It is also advantageous for the center point CP of the end face 201' to coincide with the center line C1 of the slit 24". The center point CP is located midway between the opposing side faces 201". The center line C1 is located midway between the lip faces 24A', 24B' when the seal 24' is relaxed or unloaded. The center line C1 generally coincides approximately with the line of symmetry of the web 12. This line of symmetry extends midway between the ends 12' and the flat faces 12" of the web 12. By aligning the center point CP with the center line C1, the separating effect of the spacer 201 is equally distributed between the flat faces 12" of the web 12, resulting in approximately equal force relief at the ends 12". In the context of the present disclosure, CP and C1 are considered aligned if the offset between them is less than 25% of the thickness of the web 12.

[0048] In FIG. 3C, the end face 201' of the spacer 201 is flat and disposed perpendicular to the side face 201''. In practice, the end face 201' can have any shape and slope.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 3C , the end surface 201′ of the spacer 201 is positioned a distance D1 from the (nearest) end 12′ of the web 12. If the end surface 201′ has an irregular shape and / or is sloped, the distance D1 is the shortest distance between the end surface 201′ and the end 12′. In some embodiments, D1 is in the range of 0.1 to 5 mm. This allows the spacer 201 to provide force relief from the seal 24′ on the end portion 12′″ of the web 12. In commercial installations, D1 may be in the range of 0.5 to 3 mm. A D1 of approximately 0.5 mm or greater facilitates deployment of the device 20, e.g., from a tolerance perspective. The upper limit of approximately 3 mm is believed to provide adequate force relief for a spacer 201 of a reasonable thickness while limiting the size of the gap between the spacer 201 and the web 12. The size of the gap should be kept small to contain potentially harmful substances within the interior space 22 of the device.

[0050] Note that spacers 201 provide force relaxation at end 12''' regardless of their shape and thickness. Thus, relaxation is achieved even when spacers 201 are thinner than web 12. In FIG. 3C, T1 represents the thickness of web 12 and is represented as the distance between flat surfaces 12'' of web 12, and T2 represents the thickness of spacer 201 and is represented as the distance between opposing side surfaces 201''. If spacer 201 has an irregular shape, thickness T2 is the distance between opposing side surfaces 201'' at end surface 201'. It is currently believed that sufficient force relaxation at end 12''' is achieved when T2 ≥ α·T1, with α being approximately 0.70. In some embodiments, for more efficient relaxation, α is approximately 1.0 or greater, e.g., at least 1.1 or 1.2.

[0051] 4A-4B are perspective views of an exemplary sterilization device 20 according to an embodiment. The perspective views are partially cross-sectional and are taken from two different angles. The housing 21 of the device 20 includes wall sections, some of which are part of a fixed frame structure and some of which are removably attached to the frame structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame structure includes an inlet wall 21A and an outlet wall 21B, which define an inlet access opening 123 and an outlet access opening 124, respectively. The top cover 21C is removably attached to the frame structure by bolts with knob handles 27' configured for easy manual manipulation. In this manner, the handle knobs 27' form a quick-release connector that is easily removed when the device 20 needs to be disassembled for cleaning or other maintenance. Other types of quick-release connectors may also be used. The inlet seal 23' covers the inlet access opening 123 and is positioned to protrude into the housing 21. The inlet mounting plate 28' defines an opening that matches the shape and position of the inlet access opening 123. The inlet seal 24' is sandwiched between the inlet mounting plate 28' and the inlet wall 21A. The inlet mounting plate 28' is attached to the inlet wall 21A by fasteners 27'', which in this example are nuts threaded onto threaded ends (not shown) positioned to protrude from the inlet wall 21A through mounting holes (not shown) in the mounting plate 28' and the seal 23'. The outlet seal 24' covers the outlet access opening 124 and is positioned to protrude from the housing 21. The outlet mounting plate 28'' defines an opening that matches the shape and position of the outlet opening 124. The outlet seal 24' is sandwiched between the mounting plate 28'' and the outlet wall 21B. The outlet mounting plate 28'' is attached to the outlet wall 21B by fasteners, in this example bolts with handle knobs 27'. The bolts extend through mounting holes (not shown) in mounting plate 28'', seal 24' and outlet wall 21B to engage nuts (see 27''' in FIG. 5C) on the inside of housing 21.

[0052] The inlet seal 23' and access opening 123 are part of the inlet port 23, and the outlet seal 24' and access opening 124 are part of the outlet port 24. Each seal 23', 24' includes an elongated slit 23'', 24''.

[0053] 4A-4B, each spacer 201 is positioned to extend through slits 23" and 24". For clarity, the webs have been omitted from FIGS. 4A-4B. Each spacer 201 is finger-shaped and has a narrow width along slits 23" and 24". Spacer 201 is part of removable unit 200 (FIG. 4B) and includes a mounting portion 202 for removable attachment to the housing. In the illustrated example, mounting portion 202 is plate-shaped, and spacer 201 extends perpendicularly from mounting portion 202. At inlet port 23, mounting portion 202 is attached to the outside of the housing, and spacer 201 extends into the housing through slit 23". Mounting portion 202 includes a mounting hole for receiving a threaded end portion protruding through mounting plate 28', and mounting portion 202 is securely attached to the housing by engagement of nut 27" with the threaded end portion. At outlet port 24, a mounting portion (not shown) is attached to the inside of the housing, with spacer 201 extending outside the housing through slit 24''. Figures 4A-4B are merely exemplary, and removable unit 200 may be attached to the housing by any suitable fastener or equivalent element.

[0054] As can be seen in FIG. 3B , the spacers 201 are positioned in the slits 23″, 24″ to define an available (open) passageway for the web 12 through the slits 23″, 24″. Depending on the installation location, the sterilizer 20 may need to accommodate webs 12 of different widths, and the position of the end face 201′ along the slits 23″, 24″ may be adjusted. Such adjustment may be possible by providing a kit of different removable units 200, all having similar mounting portions 202 and different spacers 201. The mounting portions 202 may be configured to attach to the same fastening structure on the housing, such as a threaded pin, guide pin, or mounting hole. Between different removable units 200 in a kit, the spacers 201 may vary in width or position relative to the mounting portions 202, or a combination thereof. The width is the extent of the spacer 201 along the slits 23″, 24″. A larger width may result in a smaller passageway. Similarly, the range of passage may be adjusted by providing a removable unit 200 that, when attached to the housing, positions the spacer 201 at different positions along the slits 23'', 24''. Such a kit increases the versatility of the sterilizer 20.

[0055] For example, it is contemplated to include removable units 200 with different thicknesses of their spacers 201 for use with webs 12 of different thickness (T1 in FIG. 3C) and / or different sensitivity to wear.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4A , the distal end 201A ("end") of each spacer 201 protrudes from the seal 23", 24". This distal end 201A is pressed through the slit 23", 24" when the spacer 201 is installed in the device 20. To reduce the risk of damaging the seal 23', 24', the distal end 201 has a rounded end 201'" along the walls 21A, 21B perpendicular to the slit 23", 24", i.e., as viewed perpendicular to the flat surface 12" of the web 12 when the web 12 is positioned to extend through the port 23, 24.

[0057] The applicant has found room for further improvement of the sterilization device 20 of FIGS. 4A-4B. The use of finger-shaped spacers 201 facilitates installation of the spacers 201 in the slits 23″ and 24″, enabling a relatively small and lightweight removable unit 200 to be realized. FIG. 4C is an enlarged view of rectangular portion 4C in FIG. 4A. As can be seen in FIG. 4C, the spacer 201 not only serves to space the lips 23A and 23B from the web, but also forms a gap G1 between the lips 23A and 23B on the side of the spacer 201 away from the web. The gap G1 is formed to maintain the lips 23A and 23B spaced apart on the outside of the spacer 201 until they can flex back to the centerline of the slit 23″ (see C1 in FIG. 3C). The size of the gap G1 depends, for example, on the thickness of the spacer 201 and the flexibility of the lips 23A and 23B. If the gap G1 is too large, the device 20 may exhibit an unacceptable amount of leakage of potentially harmful substances during operation. A similar gap is formed by spacer 201 in slit 24''.

[0058] The risk of leakage can be mitigated by increasing the width of the spacer 201 along the slit. Figures 5A-5C show an exemplary sterilization apparatus 20 equipped with such a spacer 201. Figures 5A-5C show the sterilization apparatus 20 without a web installed. Figures 6A-6D show the same sterilization apparatus 20 when a web 12 is fed through the apparatus 12 during operation. The sterilization apparatus 20 has the same basic structure and configuration as the apparatus 20 of Figures 4A-4B. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the following description will focus on differences and details not seen in Figures 4A-4B. Therefore, details not described below are similar in Figures 4A-4B.

[0059] As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5A, the sterilizer 20 has an elongated housing having the general shape of a rectangular cube. The housing frame structure extends between two end walls 21D, 21E (FIG. 6A) and includes an inlet wall 21A and an outlet wall 21B. The top of the housing is closed by a top plate 21C. An inlet-side mounting plate 28′ is attached to the frame structure by a plurality of handle knobs 27″ (here, nuts) distributed along the length of the housing. An outlet-side mounting plate 28″ is attached to the frame structure by four bolts with handle knobs 27′ ​​that form a quick-release connector. Despite the provision of the spacer 201, some dust may be generated if the device 20 is operated for an extended period of time, e.g., a week or more. Because dust tends to accumulate inside the outlet seal 24′, it may be beneficial to provide a quick-release connector on the outlet side of the device 20 to provide easy access to the inside of the outlet seal 24″. Further rapid access to the housing interior is provided by top cover 21C being removably attached to the frame structure by four bolts with handle knobs 27'.

[0060] FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of boxed portion 5B in FIG. 5A. As shown, spacer 201 has a significantly longer length along slit 24″ compared to spacer 201 in FIGS. 4A-4B. Spacer 201 has a shape that is more blade-like than finger-like. As in FIGS. 4A-4B, spacer 201 has a rounded end 201′″ at distal end 201A that protrudes through slit 24″. Although not shown, spacer 201 in slit 23″ has a similarly shaped distal end. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5C, each spacer 201 is part of a removable unit 200 that is attached to a housing as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A-4B. Removable units 200 may be included in a kit of removable units in which spacers 201 vary by width and / or thickness.

[0061] Turning to FIG. 6A, a front view of the outlet port 24, it can be seen that the elongated slit 24'' extends between the two slit ends 124'', and the spacer 201 is positioned to extend to the right slit end 124''. The spacer 201 thereby defines the width of the passage for the web 12 within the slit 24'' and blocks the remainder of the slit 24''. FIG. 6C is an enlarged view of the enclosed portion 6C of FIG. 6A. The spacer 201 may be positioned to exert a pressing force toward the slit end 124'', thereby reducing or eliminating the gap G2 between the end face 201' of the spacer 201 and the slit end 124''. As shown in FIG. 6C, the end face 201' of the spacer 201 is positioned at a distance D2 from the slit end 124''. The distance D2 is set so that the area of ​​the gap G2 is smaller than the area of ​​the gap G1 between the finger-shaped spacers 201 (see FIG. 4C). In some embodiments, D2 is in the range of 0 to 5 mm. In some embodiments, the upper limit of D2 is set at 3 mm to further mitigate material release. Distance D2 can be made to approach zero by deforming slit end 124'' and adjacent lip surfaces 24A', 24B' into contact with end surface 201'. Note that end surface 201' need not be planar and square as shown, but may have a shape that generally conforms to the triangular shape of gap G2 shown in FIG. 6C to reduce stress on seal 24' and seal end 124''.

[0062] FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of enclosed portion 6B of FIG. 6A and shows how spacer 201 achieves forced separation of lips 24A, 24B to such an extent that lip surfaces 24A, 24B' are spaced from planar surface 12'' at end 12' of web 12. FIG. 6B includes distance parameter D1. The above discussion regarding D1 and other design parameters is equally applicable to the embodiment of FIGS. 5-6.

[0063] Returning to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5C , the seals 23′, 24′ are configured to protrude through the access openings 123, 124 of the housing 21. The entrance seal 23′ is configured to protrude into the housing, and the exit seal 24′ is configured to protrude from the housing. This positions the seals 23′, 24′ to protrude in the feed direction of the web 12 along the travel path TP through the housing. The protruding shape of the seals 23′, 24′ enables each seal 23′, 24′ to have a guide surface 23′″, 24′″ that extends along the seal 23′, 24 and tapers toward the slit 23″, 24″. The guide surface 23′″, 24′″ faces in a direction opposite to the feed direction of the web 12 through the housing. This configuration of the seals 23′, 24′ may facilitate the insertion of the web 12 into the respective slit 23′, 24′. Web 12 is guided into respective slits 23', 24' through contact with guide surfaces 23'', 24''. Web 12 becomes wider and can become difficult to handle due to twisting and curvature.

[0064] In the embodiment of Figures 4-6, the sterilizer 20 has one spacer 201 at the inlet port 23 and one spacer 201 at the outlet port 24, both spacers 201 positioned to reduce engagement with the same end 12' of the web 12. Depending on the installation location, one of the spacers 201 may be omitted. For example, the spacer 201 at the inlet port 23 may be omitted if dust particles accumulate mainly outside the inlet port 23 and are therefore easily accessible for cleaning. Alternatively, the spacer at the outlet port 24 may be omitted. It is also conceivable to provide two spacers at the inlet port 23 and / or outlet port 24, one on each side of the web 12. This may be relevant, for example, if both longitudinal ends 12' of the web 12 are sensitive to wear.

[0065] The present disclosure is not limited to webs made of fibrous material or webs having longitudinal edges that expose fibrous material, but may be used with any type of web to reduce wear on one or both of the longitudinal edges of the web and / or to reduce the risk of clogging, tangling, tears, etc. caused by increased frictional engagement between the longitudinal edges of the web and the elongated seals of the inlet or outlet ports.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for reducing the presence of microorganisms on a web material (12) having opposing flat surfaces (12'') and longitudinal edges (12'') joined to the opposing flat surfaces (12'', the apparatus comprising: an inlet port (23) and an outlet port (24) disposed on the housing (21), the web material (12) being movable along a movement path (TP) through the interior space (22) between the inlet port (23) and the outlet port (24), the inlet port (23) and the outlet port (23, 24) being elongated and each having a seal (23', 24'), the seal (23', 24') defining an elongated slit (23'', 24'') for flexural engagement with the web material (12); a structure (25) for reducing the presence of microorganisms on the web material (12) within the interior space (22); and the device further comprises: a spacer (201) disposed in the elongated slit (23''; 24'') of the inlet port (23) or the outlet port (24), for reducing the engagement between the seal (23'; 24') and the flat surface (12'') of the web material (12) at one of the longitudinal ends (12') of the web material (12); An apparatus comprising:

2. the seal (23'; 24') comprises a pair of opposing lips (23A, 23B; 24A, 24B) arranged to define the elongated slit (23''; 24''); the spacer (201) is disposed between the opposing lips (23A, 23B; 24A, 24B) and abuts the opposing lips (23A, 23B; 24A, 24B); 10. The apparatus of claim 1.

3. the spacer (201) has opposing sides (201'') that extend along the elongated slit (23''; 24'') and abut the opposing lips (23A, 23B; 24A, 24B) to locally space the opposing lips (23A, 23B; 24A, 24B) from one another; 3. The apparatus of claim 2.

4. the spacer (201) has a surface (201') arranged to face one of the longitudinal ends (12'), and a center point (CP) of the surface (201') is aligned with a center line (C1) of the elongated slit (24''); An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the distance (T2) between the opposing sides (201'') of the spacer (201) is at least about 70% of the thickness (T1) of the web material (12), or is equal to the thickness (T1) of the web material (12), or is greater than the thickness (T1) of the web material (12); An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The web material (12) comprises a fibrous material. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. the fibrous material is exposed at one of the longitudinal ends (12') of the web material (12); 7. The apparatus of claim 6.

8. the spacers (201) are arranged to define the width of an elongated passage for the web material (12) through the elongated slits (23''; 24''); An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the spacer (201) is positioned along the elongated slit (24'') so as to extend away from the elongated passage to an end (124'') of the elongated slit (24''); 9. The apparatus of claim 8.

10. the distance (D2) between the spacer (201) and the end (124'') of the elongated slit (24'') is 0 to 5 mm, preferably 0 to 3 mm; 10. The apparatus of claim 9.

11. the spacer (201) has an end surface (201') arranged facing one of the longitudinal ends (12') of the web material (12) at a distance (D1) of 0.1 to 5 mm, preferably 0.5 to 3 mm, An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The spacer (201) is part of a removable unit (200), the removable unit having a mounting portion (202) for removably mounting to the housing (21). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The removable unit (200) is included in a kit of removable units, and the spacers (201) of the removable units (200) in the kit differ in at least one of thickness, width, or position relative to the mounting portion (202), the thickness defining the extent of the spacers (201) transverse to the elongated slit (23''; 24'') and the width defining the extent of the spacers (201) along the elongated slit (23''; 24'').

13. The apparatus of claim 12.

14. The mounting portion (202) is attached to the housing (21) so that an end (201A) of the spacer (201) protrudes through an elongated slit (23''; 24''), and the end (201A) has a rounded end (201''') when viewed perpendicularly to the flat surface (12'') of the web material (12).

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13.

15. 1. A system for manufacturing a package, comprising: a supply device (10) for a web material (12); An apparatus (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, arranged to receive a web material (12) from the supply device (10) and operable to reduce the presence of microorganisms on the web material (12); a filler (30) configured to receive the web material (12) from the apparatus (20) and process the web material (12) into packages (50); A package manufacturing system comprising:

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