Sterilization Unit With Suction Air Barrier System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization systems for sensitive food products, such as isotonic beverages and milk-based beverages, are cumbersome, expensive, and complex, requiring multiple plasma dispensers and frequent maintenance, while also being inflexible for use in different production lines.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization unit with a treatment chamber and plasma supply means, combined with a suction air barrier system to maintain a plasma-saturated environment, allowing articles to pass through a linear or curvilinear path for effective sterilization without the need for multiple dispensers, and enabling easier maintenance and flexible use across various production lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple plasma dispensers are arranged along the helical path to sterilize capsules, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple plasma dispensers into a single dispenser that moves along the helical path. This single dispenser integrates the function of multiple stationary dispensers, reducing system complexity while maintaining sterilization effectiveness through sequential exposure of different capsule surfaces to plasma during rotation and translation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a dynamic single plasma dispenser that moves along a helical path rather than using multiple stationary dispensers. The dispenser's motion along the helix, combined with capsule rotation, ensures all surfaces are exposed to plasma, achieving the same sterilization effect as multiple dispensers but with reduced complexity
2Reliability
If all plasma dispensers are kept active to ensure correct sterilization, then sterilization quality is maintained, but maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single movable plasma dispenser can be easily removed and replaced without requiring the system to remain operational during maintenance. The dispenser moves through the treatment chamber along the helical path, allowing for quick swap-out and replacement, thereby simplifying maintenance while maintaining continuous sterilization capability
3Reliability
If a helical configuration of the path is used to expose different surfaces to plasma, then sterilization completeness is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The helical path is implemented as a dynamic trajectory of a single movable dispenser rather than a fixed helical structure. The dispenser follows the helical path during its motion through the treatment chamber, combining translation and rotation to expose all capsule surfaces to plasma without requiring complex helical mechanical structures
Solution Approach 2:
The single plasma dispenser is designed to perform multiple functions: it sterilizes capsules of different types (parisons, containers, closures) and handles various orientations through its helical motion path. This universal dispenser replaces multiple specialized dispensers, reducing structural complexity while maintaining sterilization completeness
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
The solution reduces structural complexity and maintenance costs, ensuring effective sterilization of capsules, parisons, and containers while being adaptable to different production line configurations, maintaining a plasma-saturated environment for uniform sterilization without the need for multiple plasma dispensers.
Implementation Method 1
plasma supply means (5, 6) for supplying plasma to the treatment chamber (2)
Implementation Method 2
a suction air barrier system (7, 8) operatively active on the treatment chamber (2) so as to limit the inlet of air from the outside towards the treatment chamber (2) and the outlet of plasma from the treatment chamber (2) towards the outside
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A sterilization unit (1) for sterilizing articles (100) such as capsules, parisons, containers, comprising: a treatment chamber (2) having an inlet section (3) and an outlet section (4) for said articles (100); a passage zone (20) for the passage of the articles (100) having an extension inside the treatment chamber (2) from the inlet section (3) to the outlet section (4); plasma supply means (5, 6) for supplying plasma to said treatment chamber (2); a suction air barrier system (7, 8) operatively active on the treatment chamber (2) so as to limit the inlet of air from the outside towards the treatment chamber (2) and the outlet of plasma from the treatment chamber (2) towards the outside, thus maintaining a plasma saturated environment inside the treatment chamber (2).