Angled Injection Sterilization for Plastic Preform Inner Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sterilizing plastic preforms before they are expanded into containers are inefficient, particularly when using fluidic sterilization media, as they often result in high losses and incomplete coverage of the inner surfaces due to the design of injection nozzles.
Innovation Solution
A device and method where application devices are arranged to inject a flowable sterilization medium at an angle other than 0° relative to the plastic preform's longitudinal direction, with the devices also offset in the longitudinal direction, allowing for more effective distribution and complete coverage of the interior surfaces during transport, using a movable carrier to maintain precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a central arrangement with straight-line injection of sterilization agent is used, then the device structure is simple, but the distribution of sterilization medium inside the plastic preforms is incomplete and coverage of inner surfaces is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The application devices are arranged asymmetrically relative to the central axis of the plastic preforms. Instead of injecting sterilization medium straight along the longitudinal direction (0°), the nozzles are positioned at predetermined angles (e.g., 10°-30°) and offset in the longitudinal direction. This asymmetric arrangement creates diagonal injection paths that sweep across the inner surfaces more effectively, ensuring complete coverage while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
2Productivity
If the application devices are stationary while plastic preforms are transported, then the device structure is simple, but the injection time is short and sterilization medium is lost in gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The application devices are mounted on a movable carrier that moves synchronously with the plastic preforms during transport. This dynamic arrangement maintains a constant relative position between the nozzles and the preforms throughout the sterilization process. As a result, the injection time is extended without requiring complex mechanical clocking mechanisms, and the sterilization medium is delivered continuously and efficiently without being lost in gaps, thereby improving productivity while minimizing medium loss.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple application devices are used to improve coverage, then the distribution of sterilization medium is enhanced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply increasing the number of application devices arranged in a conventional manner, the invention utilizes angular and longitudinal positioning in addition to the radial arrangement. The nozzles are positioned at predetermined angles relative to the longitudinal direction and offset in the longitudinal direction, creating a three-dimensional injection pattern. This dimensional approach allows a smaller number of application devices to achieve complete coverage of the inner surfaces by injecting sterilization medium along multiple diagonal paths, thereby enhancing distribution while limiting device complexity and cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the distribution of the sterilization medium within the preforms, ensuring extensive wetting and exposure of the inner walls, reducing germ counts effectively and minimizing losses, thereby improving the shelf life of sensitive products.
Implementation Method 1
a flowable sterilization medium and in particular a gaseous sterilization medium is applied to plastic preforms 10
Implementation Method 2
Both an inner surface of the plastic containers and an outer surface can be sterilized. The sterilization can be carried out by germicidal radiation, such as beta radiation, but also by exposure to a sterilizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide gas.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A device (1) for cleaning and/or sterilizing plastic preforms (10) comprising a transport device (2) which transports the plastic preforms (10) along a predetermined transport path (P), and a plurality of application devices (4) which apply a flowable sterilization medium to the plastic preforms (10). According to the invention, the application devices (4) are movably arranged with the plastic preforms (10), wherein the application devices (4) are arranged such that they inject the flowable medium into the plastic preforms (10) at a predetermined angle α other than 0° relative to a longitudinal direction (L) of the plastic preforms (10) and/or the longitudinal directions (LB) of the application devices (4) are offset relative to the longitudinal directions (L) of the plastic preforms (10).