Sterilization Device with Movable Rods for Electron Beam Arc Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container sterilization methods using electron beams face issues with internal flashovers (arcs) that disrupt radiation delivery, leading to incomplete sterilization and potential material damage from overexposure, especially in continuous packaging processes.
Innovation Solution
A device with movable sterilization components and detection systems that adjust movement profiles to compensate for radiation failures by stopping or reversing the relative movement between containers and charge carrier devices, ensuring adequate sterilization without overexposing materials, and utilizing a control device to manage charge carrier emission during arcs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the treatment path is extended to compensate for radiation failures, then sterilization reliability is improved, but packaging material is overexposed causing material damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the relative movement between the charge carrier line device and container based on real-time detection of radiation failures. The movement profile is modified on-the-fly to pause or reverse movement during arcs, ensuring adequate sterilization without fixed overexposure
Solution Approach 2:
A detection device monitors radiation delivery and provides feedback to the control device. When an arc is detected, the system receives information about the failure and automatically adjusts the movement profile to compensate, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents both under- and over-exposure
2Reliability
If radiation power is increased after an arc to supply missing dose, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but control complexity and shielding adaptation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than increasing radiation power, the system dynamically adjusts the temporal profile of movement. The control device modifies when and how the container moves relative to the radiation source, using time-based control instead of power-based control to achieve the same sterilization effect
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the movement parameters (position, speed, direction) instead of changing radiation power parameters. This shifts the control variable from radiation intensity to mechanical movement characteristics, simplifying the control approach
3Reliability
If dwell time is increased to ensure adequate sterilization, then sterilization reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to limited transport speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulses of extended dwell time only when arcs are detected, rather than continuously increasing dwell time. Normal operation maintains high speed, while compensation occurs in periodic interruptions when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The dwell time is dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of radiation failures. The system maintains high productivity during normal operation and only increases dwell time temporarily when arcs occur, optimizing the trade-off between speed and reliability
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
Ensures consistent sterilization of container inner walls even during radiation failures, preventing germ contamination and minimizing material damage by adapting treatment time rather than radiation intensity, allowing for continuous operation and effective sterilization during both insertion and withdrawal of charge carriers.
Implementation Method 1
sterilization devices each having charge carrier generation devices for generating the charge carriers and acceleration devices for accelerating the charge carriers
Implementation Method 2
electrons thus emitted reach the inner wall of the container in order to sterilize it
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A device (1) for sterilizing containers (10) using charge carriers, comprising a first transport device (2) which transports the containers (10) along a predetermined transport path (P), and a plurality of sterilization devices (20) arranged on this transport device (2), wherein the sterilization devices (20) each comprise charge carrier generation devices (22) for generating the charge carriers, acceleration devices (24) for accelerating the charge carriers, and rod-like charge carrier conduction devices (26) which can be inserted into the containers (10) through their openings, and wherein the charge carrier conduction devices (26) further comprise exit windows (28) through which the charge carriers exit the charge carriers (26). According to the invention, the individual sterilization devices (20) each comprise movement devices (14),to move the containers (10) relative to the rod-like charge carrier conduction devices (26) in a longitudinal direction (L) of the containers (10), wherein the movement profiles of the movements of the containers (10) relative to the respective charge carrier conduction devices (26) are independently controllable, and the device (1) has at least one detection device (30) which detects a failure of the accelerated charge carriers of the individual sterilization devices (20), wherein the movement devices (14) are signal-connected to the detection device(s) (30) such that, upon detection of a failure of the accelerated charge carriers in a sterilization device (20) by the detection device (30), a relative movement between this sterilization device (20) and the container 10 to be sterilized by this sterilization device (20) is stopped and/or reversed.