Sterilization Apparatus Drying Portion for Packaging Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization apparatuses for packaging machines used in forming packages of pourable food products are not efficient in removing chemical sterilization agents from the packaging material, particularly from cavities formed by opening devices.
Innovation Solution
The sterilization apparatus includes a drying portion with a series of rollers and gas nozzles that work together to efficiently remove chemical sterilization agents from both the planar portions and cavities of the packaging material by utilizing centrifugal forces, gravitational forces, and directed gas streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical sterilization is used to sterilize packaging material, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but removal efficiency of chemical sterilization agent from packaging material deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drying portion is divided into multiple sections with different roller configurations and gas flow patterns. The first drying section uses rollers to remove bulk chemical agent, while the second drying section uses directed gas streams to remove residual chemical from cavities. This segmentation allows each section to specialize in removing chemical sterilization agent from specific locations, improving overall removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses directed gas streams (pneumatic action) in the second drying section to penetrate into cavities and remove residual chemical sterilization agent. The gas flow is directed through nozzles that target specific cavity regions, using pneumatic pressure and flow dynamics to effectively remove chemical residues from hard-to-reach areas.
2Adaptability or versatility
If opening devices are molded onto packaging material, then package functionality is improved, but chemical sterilization agent remains trapped in cavities deteriorating removal efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The solution addresses the cavity problem by transitioning from surface-level drying to multi-dimensional drying. The first drying section handles surface contamination, while the second drying section uses directed gas streams to penetrate into the three-dimensional cavity spaces created by opening devices. This dimensional transition allows effective chemical removal from both surfaces and internal cavity regions.
Solution Approach 2:
Directed gas streams act as an intermediary medium to reach into cavities where chemical sterilization agent residues remain. The gas flow serves as a carrier that penetrates the cavity structures, dissolves and removes chemical residues, and transports them away from the packaging material surface, enabling effective removal from complex geometries.
3Device complexity
If simple drying is used, then device complexity is reduced, but removal efficiency of chemical sterilization agent from cavities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drying portion is segmented into two functional sections: a first drying section with rollers for surface drying and a second drying section with directed gas streams for cavity cleaning. This segmentation allows the system to address different removal challenges in different locations, improving overall removal efficiency while keeping each section's structure relatively simple and modular.
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 significantly improves the efficiency of removing chemical sterilization agents from the packaging material, ensuring thorough sterilization and reducing residual chemical presence, thereby enhancing the overall packaging process.
Implementation Method 1
a drying portion with a series of rollers and gas nozzles that work together to efficiently remove chemical sterilization agents from both the planar portions and cavities of the packaging material by utilizing centrifugal forces, gravitational forces, and directed gas streams
Implementation Method 2
a drying portion with a series of rollers and gas nozzles that work together to efficiently remove chemical sterilization agents from both the planar portions and cavities of the packaging material by utilizing centrifugal forces, gravitational forces, and directed gas streams
Implementation Method 3
a drying portion with a series of rollers and gas nozzles that work together to efficiently remove chemical sterilization agents from both the planar portions and cavities of the packaging material by utilizing centrifugal forces, gravitational forces, and directed gas streams
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described a sterilization apparatus (9) configured to sterilize a web of packaging material (5); the sterilization apparatus (9) comprises a sterilization device configured to expose the web of packaging material (5) to a chemical sterilization agent during advancement along a sterilization portion (P1) of an advancement path (P), and a plurality of rollers (30, 31, 33) defining a drying portion (P2) of the advancement path (P) so that the chemical sterilization agent is removed from the web of packaging material (5); the plurality of rollers (30, 31, 32, 40, 41) comprises at least a first pair (40) of upstream squeegee rollers and a second pair (41) of downstream squeegee rollers arranged downstream of the first pair (40) of upstream squeegee rollers along the drying portion (P2); each one of the first pair (40) of upstream squeegee rollers and the second pair (41) of downstream squeegee rollers is configured to remove liquid from the web of packaging material (5); the sterilization apparatus (9) also comprises one or more gas nozzles (42), each gas nozzle (42) being arranged at one respective blowing station along the drying portion and being configured to direct a stream of gas against the web of packaging material.