EP0272538B1 - Device for disinfecting food containers - Google Patents

Device for disinfecting food containers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0272538B1
EP0272538B1 EP87118127A EP87118127A EP0272538B1 EP 0272538 B1 EP0272538 B1 EP 0272538B1 EP 87118127 A EP87118127 A EP 87118127A EP 87118127 A EP87118127 A EP 87118127A EP 0272538 B1 EP0272538 B1 EP 0272538B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
deposit
head
deposit head
container
electrode
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Expired - Lifetime
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EP87118127A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0272538A3 (en
EP0272538A2 (en
Inventor
Ernst Günter Dr. Lierke
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Leifeld and Lemke Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Co KG
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Leifeld and Lemke Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Co KG
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Publication of EP0272538A3 publication Critical patent/EP0272538A3/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/10—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by liquids or gases

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for sterilizing food containers, in particular plastic cups for holding milk products, using a sterilizing agent, with an aerosol generator with a MHz ultrasound transducer for generating droplets of the sterilizing agent and with a separating device in which the droplets supplied by air flow are charged by corona discharge and deposited electrostatically on the surfaces of a container, the separating device consisting of a separating head engaging in the container with a central tip electrode fed by a generator, an outer electrode surrounding the container and an auxiliary electrode at the end part of the separating head, which forms an electric field with the outer electrode.
  • the object of the invention is the separating head used here to further improve its function.
  • the separating head should offer a high level of safety in the event of possible splintering and also make it easy to set up and replace the tip electrode.
  • the separating head 2 consists of a glass body 20 with a tip electrode 3 running in the center, which is fed by a high-voltage generator.
  • the glass body 20 is enclosed at the end by a metal foil as an auxiliary electrode 4.
  • a metal foil as an auxiliary electrode 4.
  • the electrostatic field is formed, by means of which the droplets of the disinfectant charged by corona discharge on the container wall are electrostatically deposited on the container wall.
  • the droplets of the disinfectant continuously generated in an aerosol generator with a MHz ultrasound transducer are fed to the separating head 2 with the aid of a clocked air flow, the amount of the disinfectant being able to be controlled via the cycle length.
  • the glass body 20 of the separating head 2 is designed as a double-walled body, in which the flow channel 2a for the disinfectant is surrounded by a second flow channel 2b to which heated air can be applied.
  • Separating head 2 and counterelectrode 5 are moved intermittently between actuating means (not shown) between an operating position enclosing the container and an opening position away from the container.
  • the insulator surface to be coated is charged more or less quickly by the deposited aerosol drops that are electrically charged by corona discharge, until an electrical constant field is built up by the surface charge, which shields the field strength at the corona tip.
  • the corona discharge then goes out and stops the electrostatic aerosol charging and separation.
  • the extinction of the corona discharge and thus the limitation of the separation effect can be prevented by changing the polarity of the corona tip after the measurable decrease or the extinction of the corona current due to field shielding, i. H. this alternately applies positive or negative voltage.
  • the aerosol flow is then alternately charged negatively or positively and, in both cases, conducted and separated in the field between the corona tip and the ground electrode to the insulator surface in between.
  • the separating head 2 is inserted into the container from above in order to separate the finest aerosol drops in monolayer or double layers on their inner surfaces.
  • a liquid circulation heating system is more effective than a hot air heating system due to a significantly better heat transfer.
  • the level of the heating temperature always depends on the "weakest point" on the separating head 2, that is the point at which the aerosol flow impinges more or less perpendicularly on the separating head surface with a high speed component ("blind spot").
  • Effective air surface cooling and increased “drop bombardment” mean that the temperature on the surfaces exposed to the flow is much lower.
  • the critical part of the separating head 2 with the greatest tendency to deposit is kept at a higher temperature than the remaining part of the separating head by an electric heating bandage 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4).
  • the separating head 2 is preceded by an enlarged space 16, into which an inlet connection 9 for the disinfectant radially protrudes, and a circumferential collecting bead 10 is formed on the enlarged space 16, which runs towards the separating head 2.
  • the inlet connection 9 is located at a defined distance from the collecting bead 10.
  • the use of such a collecting bead 10 reliably prevents the aerosol from dripping downward.
  • the discharge of the liquid takes place via a drainage pipe 10a leading away from the collecting bead 10, as a result of which the heating bandage 15 can cease to exist (FIGS. 3 and 4).
  • the separating head 2 can be operated in such a way that the fine aerosol is guided from below against the surfaces to be coated, which automatically prevents dripping and therefore generally does not require any heating.
  • the central arrangement of the high-voltage tip electrode in the separating head 2 shown in FIG. 1 has no insulation in the central tube, so that a non-conductive medium must be used for preheating the separating head 2. In continuous operation, deposits can occur in this inner tube, which then give rise to undesired leakage currents.
  • a dense ceramic tube 11 in the center of the separating head 2, which is firmly connected to the central tube of the separating head 2 at the upper and lower ends by a seal 12a, 12b (FIG. 4).
  • the corona tip 13 is inserted as a long thin wire, which protrudes at the lower end with a free length to be optimized. In this way, changes in length and a service exchange of the corona tip, which can be routed to the generator via a flexible high-voltage cable, are easy to carry out.
  • the tip electrode can also be designed in the form of a tip 17 which can be inserted or plugged into the central tube of the separating head 2 at the end and is connected to a feed line 18 running in the central tube.
  • the tip 17 is received by an insert part 19.
  • the separating head 2 In use, it cannot be excluded that the separating head 2, which is made of glass as an electrical insulator, will be damaged.
  • the separating head 2 In order to avoid glass splinters in particular in food processing applications, the separating head 2 is provided with a tear-resistant, heat and chemically resistant plastic coating according to a last improvement according to the invention, which is applied in a known manner by powder coating and subsequent baking on the outer and inner surfaces of the separating head 2 .
  • This plastic coating which is preferably transparent, also secures the metal electrode 4 of the separating head 2 against mechanical, chemical or electro-chemical corrosion and prevents electrical breakdown between the separating head 2 and the "ground" electrode 5 of the apparatus because of the high electrical resistance.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zum Entkeimen von Lebensmittelbehältern, insbesondere von Bechern aus Kunststoff zur Aufnahme von Milchprodukten, unter Verwendung eines Entkeimungsmittels, mit einem Aerosolgenerator mit MHz-Ultraschallwandler zum Erzeugen von Tröpfchen des Entkeimungsmittels und mit einer Abscheideeinrichtung, in der die mittels Luftströmung zugeführten Tröpfchen durch Koronaentladung aufgeladen und elektrostatisch auf die Flächen eines Behälters niedergeschlagen werden, wobei die Abscheideeinrichtung aus einem in den Behälter eingreifenden Abscheidekopf mit einer zentralen von einem Generator gespeisten Spitzenelektrode, aus einer den Behälter umschließenden äußeren Elektrode und aus einer Hilfselektrode am endseitigen Teil des Abscheidekopfes besteht, die mit der äußeren Elektrode ein elektrisches Feld bildet.The invention relates to a device for sterilizing food containers, in particular plastic cups for holding milk products, using a sterilizing agent, with an aerosol generator with a MHz ultrasound transducer for generating droplets of the sterilizing agent and with a separating device in which the droplets supplied by air flow are charged by corona discharge and deposited electrostatically on the surfaces of a container, the separating device consisting of a separating head engaging in the container with a central tip electrode fed by a generator, an outer electrode surrounding the container and an auxiliary electrode at the end part of the separating head, which forms an electric field with the outer electrode.

Aus der Zusatzpatentanmeldung DE 34 40 014 in Verbindung mit der Hauptpatentanmeldung DE 34 14 268 ist eine derartige Vorrichtung zum Entkeimen von Lebensmittelbehältern bekannt.From the additional patent application DE 34 40 014 in connection with the main patent application DE 34 14 268, such a device for disinfecting food containers is known.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, den dabei verwendeten Abscheidekopf hinsichtlich seiner Funktion weiter zu verbessern. Darüber hinaus soll der Abscheidekopf eine hohe Sicherheit bei möglicher Zersplitterung bieten sowie ein leichtes Einrichten und Auswechseln der Spitzenelektrode ermöglichen.The object of the invention is the separating head used here to further improve its function. In addition, the separating head should offer a high level of safety in the event of possible splintering and also make it easy to set up and replace the tip electrode.

Diese Aufgaben werden erfindungsgemäß durch die im kennzeichnenden Teil der Ansprüche angegebenen Merkmale gelöst.According to the invention, these objects are achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of the claims.

Die Erfindung soll nachfolgend anhand der Zeichnung näher erläutert werden. Dabei zeigen:

Fig. 1
den Abscheidekopf in seiner bisherigen Ausgestaltung,
Fig. 2
eine Schnittdarstellung gemäß der Schnittlinie A-B in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 und 4
den Abscheidekopf mit den erfindungsgemäßen Verbesserungen.
The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Show:
Fig. 1
the separator head in its previous design,
Fig. 2
2 shows a sectional illustration along the section line AB in FIG. 1,
3 and 4
the separating head with the improvements according to the invention.

Der Abscheidekopf 2 besteht aus einem Glaskörper 20 mit einer im Zentrum verlaufenden Spitzenelektrode 3, die von einem Hochspannungsgenerator gespeist wird. Der Glaskörper 20 wird endseitig von einer Metallfolie als Hilfselektrode 4 umschlossen. Zwischen den Elektroden 3 und 4 und einer Gegenelektrode 5 als Masse, die den mit einem Entkeimungsmittel zu belegenden Behälter aufnimmt, wird das elektrostatische Feld gebildet, durch das die an der Spitzenelektrode 3 durch Koronaentladung aufgeladenen Tröpfchen des Entkeimungsmittels an der Behälterwand elektrostatisch niedergeschlagen werden.The separating head 2 consists of a glass body 20 with a tip electrode 3 running in the center, which is fed by a high-voltage generator. The glass body 20 is enclosed at the end by a metal foil as an auxiliary electrode 4. Between the electrodes 3 and 4 and a counter electrode 5 as a mass, which receives the container to be coated with a disinfectant, the electrostatic field is formed, by means of which the droplets of the disinfectant charged by corona discharge on the container wall are electrostatically deposited on the container wall.

Die in einem Aerosolgenerator mit MHz-Ultraschallwandler kontinuierlich erzeugten Tröpfchen des Entkeimungsmittels werden mit Hilfe eines getakteten Luftstromes dem Abscheidekopf 2 zugeführt, wobei sich die Menge des Entkeimungsmittels über die Taktlänge steuern läßt.The droplets of the disinfectant continuously generated in an aerosol generator with a MHz ultrasound transducer are fed to the separating head 2 with the aid of a clocked air flow, the amount of the disinfectant being able to be controlled via the cycle length.

Der Glaskörper 20 des Abscheidekopfes 2 ist als doppelwandiger Körper ausgestaltet, in dem der Strömungskanal 2a für das Entkeimungsmittel von einem mit erwärmter Luft beaufschlagbaren zweiten Strömungskanal 2b umgeben ist.The glass body 20 of the separating head 2 is designed as a double-walled body, in which the flow channel 2a for the disinfectant is surrounded by a second flow channel 2b to which heated air can be applied.

Abscheidekopf 2 und Gegenelektrode 5 werden über nicht gezeigte Betätigungsmittel taktweise zwischen einer den Behälter zwischen sich einschließenden Arbeitsstellung und einer vom Behälter entfernt liegenden Öffnungsstellung verfahren.Separating head 2 and counterelectrode 5 are moved intermittently between actuating means (not shown) between an operating position enclosing the container and an opening position away from the container.

Bei der Beschichtung der Flächen eines Behälters mit größeren Mengen des Entkeimungsmittels lädt sich die zu beschichtende Isolatorfläche durch die abgeschiedenen durch Koronaentladung elektrisch aufgeladenen Aerosoltropfen mehr oder weniger schnell auf, bis durch die Flächenladung ein elektrisches Gleichfeld aufgebaut wird, das die Feldstärke an der Koronaspitze abschirmt. Die Koronaentladung erlischt dann und beendet die elektrostatische Aerosolaufladung und -abscheidung.When the surfaces of a container are coated with larger quantities of the disinfectant, the insulator surface to be coated is charged more or less quickly by the deposited aerosol drops that are electrically charged by corona discharge, until an electrical constant field is built up by the surface charge, which shields the field strength at the corona tip. The corona discharge then goes out and stops the electrostatic aerosol charging and separation.

Nach einer ersten funktionellen Verbesserung der Erfindung kann das Erlöschen der Koronaentladung und damit die Begrenzung der Abscheidewirkung dadurch verhindert werden, daß man nach dem meßbaren Ruckgang oder dem Erlöschen des Koronastromes infolge Feldabschirmung die Polarität der Koronaspitze wechselt, d. h. diese abwechselnd an positive oder negative Spannung legt. Der Aerosolstrom wird dann abwechselnd negativ oder positiv geladen und in beiden Fällen im Feld zwischen Koronaspitze und Masseelektrode zur dazwischenliegenden Isolatorfläche geführt und abgeschieden.After a first functional improvement of the invention, the extinction of the corona discharge and thus the limitation of the separation effect can be prevented by changing the polarity of the corona tip after the measurable decrease or the extinction of the corona current due to field shielding, i. H. this alternately applies positive or negative voltage. The aerosol flow is then alternately charged negatively or positively and, in both cases, conducted and separated in the field between the corona tip and the ground electrode to the insulator surface in between.

Die vorhergehende gegenpolare Flächen-Aufladung bewirkt eine effektive Feldstärkenerhöhung, die erst durch weitere Abscheidung allmählich wieder abgebaut wird. Durch periodisches Umpolen der Koronaspitze läßt sich auf diese Weise beliebig viel Feinstaerosol vollständig und gleichmäßig an den Behälterflächen abscheiden.The previous counter-polar surface charge causes an effective increase in field strength, which is only gradually reduced again by further deposition. By periodically reversing the polarity of the corona tip In this way, any amount of fine dust can be completely and evenly separated on the container surfaces.

In der hier eingesetzten Geräteanordnung zum Entkeimen von Lebensmittelbehältern wird der Abscheidekopf 2 von oben in den Behälter eingeführt, um feinste Aerosoltropfen in Mono- oder Doppelschichten auf ihren Innenflächen abzuscheiden.In the device arrangement used here for sterilizing food containers, the separating head 2 is inserted into the container from above in order to separate the finest aerosol drops in monolayer or double layers on their inner surfaces.

Bei dichtem Aerosolstrom kommt es insbesondere bei Richtungsänderungen des Aerosolstroms infolge von Fliehkräften durch den das Aerosol tragenden Gasstrom sowie durch "Tropfenbombardement" des Abscheidekopfes 2 zu unerwünschten Aerosolabscheidungen auf dem Abscheidekopf. Als Folge dieser Abscheidung können größere Tropfen der abzuscheidenden Flüssigkeit auf die zu beschichtenden Flächen fallen, was die gleichmäßige Beschichtung beeinträchtigt und das darauffolgende Abtrocknen oder Fixieren der Schichten verzögert. Um diesem Mangel abzuhelfen, wird bekanntlich der innen hohle Abscheidekopf 2 mit erwärmter Luft vorgeheizt, damit eventuell angelagerte Tröpfchen direkt verdampfen können.In the case of a dense aerosol flow, in particular when the direction of the aerosol flow changes as a result of centrifugal forces caused by the gas flow carrying the aerosol and by "drop bombardment" of the separating head 2, undesired aerosol separations occur on the separating head. As a result of this deposition, larger drops of the liquid to be deposited can fall onto the surfaces to be coated, which impairs the uniform coating and delays the subsequent drying or fixing of the layers. In order to remedy this deficiency, it is known that the internally hollow separating head 2 is preheated with heated air, so that any deposited droplets can evaporate directly.

Bei der Optimierung dieser Flächenheizung hat sich gemäß einer weiteren Verbesserung der Erfindung herausgestellt, daß eine Flüssigkeits-Umlaufheizung aufgrund eines wesentlich besseren Wärmeübergangs effektiver ist als eine Warmluftheizung. Die Höhe der Heiztemperatur richtet sich aber stets nach der "schwächsten Stelle" am Abscheidekopf 2, das ist die Stelle, an der der Aerosolstrom mit großer Geschwindigkeitskomponente mehr oder weniger senkrecht auf die Abscheidekopffläche auftrifft ("blinder Fleck"). Hier ist durch effektive Luftflächenkühlung und durch gesteigertes "Tropfenbombardement" die Temperatur an den angeströmten Flächen wesentlich niedriger.In optimizing this surface heating, it has been found, according to a further improvement of the invention, that a liquid circulation heating system is more effective than a hot air heating system due to a significantly better heat transfer. However, the level of the heating temperature always depends on the "weakest point" on the separating head 2, that is the point at which the aerosol flow impinges more or less perpendicularly on the separating head surface with a high speed component ("blind spot"). Effective air surface cooling and increased "drop bombardment" mean that the temperature on the surfaces exposed to the flow is much lower.

In einer anderen Variante wird der kritische Teil des Abscheidekopfes 2 mit der größten Anlagerungsneigung durch eine elektrische Heizbandage 15 auf einer höheren Temperatur als der übrige Teil des Abscheidekopfes gehalten (Fig. 3 und 4).In another variant, the critical part of the separating head 2 with the greatest tendency to deposit is kept at a higher temperature than the remaining part of the separating head by an electric heating bandage 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

Gemäß einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Funktionsverbesserung ist dem Abscheidekopf 2 ein erweiterter Raum 16 vorgelagert, in den ein Zulaufstutzen 9 für das Entkeimungsmittel radial hineinragt, und an den erweiterten Raum 16 ist eine umlaufende Auffangsicke 10 angeformt, die zum Abscheidekopf 2 hin verläuft. Im Hinblick auf eine funktionssichere Arbeitsweise, und zwar Vermeidung von Tropfenbildung, Verwirbelung und elektrischen Überschlägen, befindet sich der Zulaufstutzen 9 in einem definierten Abstand zur Auffangsicke 10. Durch die Verwendung einer solchen Auffangsicke 10 wird ein Abtropfen des Aerosols nach unten sicher verhindert. Das Ableiten der Flüssigkeit geschieht über einen von der Auffangsicke 10 aus wegführenden Ablaufstutzen 10a, wodurch die Heizbandage 15 in Fortfall gelangen kann (Fig. 3 und 4).According to a further functional improvement according to the invention, the separating head 2 is preceded by an enlarged space 16, into which an inlet connection 9 for the disinfectant radially protrudes, and a circumferential collecting bead 10 is formed on the enlarged space 16, which runs towards the separating head 2. With regard to a functionally reliable method of working, namely avoiding droplet formation, swirling and electrical flashovers, the inlet connection 9 is located at a defined distance from the collecting bead 10. The use of such a collecting bead 10 reliably prevents the aerosol from dripping downward. The discharge of the liquid takes place via a drainage pipe 10a leading away from the collecting bead 10, as a result of which the heating bandage 15 can cease to exist (FIGS. 3 and 4).

In einer abgewandelten Ausführung kann der Abscheidekopf 2 so betrieben werden, daß das Feinstaerosol von unten gegen die zu beschichtenden Flächen geführt wird, was ein Abtropfen automatisch verhindert und somit grundsätzlich keine Beheizung erfordert.In a modified version, the separating head 2 can be operated in such a way that the fine aerosol is guided from below against the surfaces to be coated, which automatically prevents dripping and therefore generally does not require any heating.

Die in Fig. 1 gezeigte zentrale Anordnung der Hochspannungs-Spitzenelektrode im Abscheidekopf 2 weist keine Isolierung im Zentralrohr auf, so daß zur Vorheizung des Abscheidekopfes 2 ein nicht leitendes Medium verwendet werden muß. Im Dauerbetrieb kann es in diesem Innenrohr zu Ablagerungen kommen, die dann Anlaß zu unerwunschten Leckströmen sind.The central arrangement of the high-voltage tip electrode in the separating head 2 shown in FIG. 1 has no insulation in the central tube, so that a non-conductive medium must be used for preheating the separating head 2. In continuous operation, deposits can occur in this inner tube, which then give rise to undesired leakage currents.

Als weiteres Merkmal wird deshalb erfindungsgemäß vorgeschlagen, im Zentrum des Abscheidekopfes 2 ein dichtes Keramikröhrchen 11 anzuordnen, das am oberen und unteren Ende durch eine Dichtung 12a, 12b fest mit dem Zentralrohr des Abscheidekopfes 2 verbunden ist (Fig. 4). In dieses Keramikröhrchen 11 wird die Koronaspitze 13 als langer dünner Draht eingeführt, der am unteren Ende mit einer noch zu optimierenden freien Länge herausragt. Auf diese Weise sind Längenänderungen und ein Service-Austausch der Koronaspitze, die über ein flexibles Hochspannungskabel zum Generator geführt werden kann, leicht auszuführen.As a further feature, it is therefore proposed according to the invention to arrange a dense ceramic tube 11 in the center of the separating head 2, which is firmly connected to the central tube of the separating head 2 at the upper and lower ends by a seal 12a, 12b (FIG. 4). In this ceramic tube 11, the corona tip 13 is inserted as a long thin wire, which protrudes at the lower end with a free length to be optimized. In this way, changes in length and a service exchange of the corona tip, which can be routed to the generator via a flexible high-voltage cable, are easy to carry out.

Auch kann die Spitzenelektrode in Form einer endseitig in das Zentralrohr des Abscheidekopfes 2 lösbar einsetzbaren oder aufsteckbaren Spitze 17 ausgestaltet sein, die mit einer im Zentralrohr verlaufenden Zuleitung 18 in Verbindung gebracht wird. Im Ausführungsbeispiel (Fig. 3) wird die Spitze 17 von einem Einsatzteil 19 aufgenommen.The tip electrode can also be designed in the form of a tip 17 which can be inserted or plugged into the central tube of the separating head 2 at the end and is connected to a feed line 18 running in the central tube. In the exemplary embodiment (FIG. 3), the tip 17 is received by an insert part 19.

Im Einsatz kann nicht ausgeschlossen werden, daß der Abscheidekopf 2, der aus Glas als elektrischer Isolator gefertigt ist, beschädigt wird. Um insbesondere bei lebensmitteltechnischen Anwendungen Glassplitter zu vermeiden, wird der Abscheidekopf 2 gemäß einer letzten erfindungsgemäßen Verbesserung mit einem reißfesten, hitze- und chemisch beständigen Kunststoffüberzug versehen, der in bekannter Weise durch Pulverbeschichtung und nachträgliches Einbrennen auf den Außen- und Innenflächen des Abscheidekopfes 2 angebracht wird. Dieser Kunststoffüberzug, der vorzugsweise transparent ist, sichert außerdem die Metallelektrode 4 des Abscheidekopfes 2 gegen mechanische, chemische oder elektro-chemische Korosion und verhindert wegen des hohen elektrischen Widerstandes einen elektrischen Durchschlag zwischen Abscheidekopf 2 und "Masse"-Elektrode 5 der Apparatur.In use, it cannot be excluded that the separating head 2, which is made of glass as an electrical insulator, will be damaged. In order to avoid glass splinters in particular in food processing applications, the separating head 2 is provided with a tear-resistant, heat and chemically resistant plastic coating according to a last improvement according to the invention, which is applied in a known manner by powder coating and subsequent baking on the outer and inner surfaces of the separating head 2 . This plastic coating, which is preferably transparent, also secures the metal electrode 4 of the separating head 2 against mechanical, chemical or electro-chemical corrosion and prevents electrical breakdown between the separating head 2 and the "ground" electrode 5 of the apparatus because of the high electrical resistance.

Claims (9)

  1. A device for sterilizing food containers, in particular bowls of plastics material for accommodating dairy products, using a sterilising agent, having an aerosol generator with an MHz-ultrasonic transducer for generating droplets of the sterilising agent and a deposit device in which the droplets which are supplied by means of a flow of air are charged by corona discharge and electrostatically deposited on the surfaces of a container, wherein the deposit device comprises a deposit head (2) engaging into the container, with a central needle electrode (13) supplied by a generator, an outer electrode which surrounds the container, and an auxiliary electrode (4) which is disposed at the end portion of the deposit head and which forms an electrical field with the outer electrode, characterised in that after a measurable decline or after extinction of the corona flow the polarity of the needle electrodes (13) can be switched from negative to positive voltage and vice-versa.
  2. A device according to claim 1 having a heated second flow passage which surrounds the flow passage of the deposit head (2), characterised in that the second flow passage (2b) can be supplied with heated fluid.
  3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the region of the deposit head (2) with the greatest droplet deposit tendency is held by way of an electrical heating element (15) at a higher temperature than the temperature of the deposit head (2).
  4. A device according to claims 1 to 3 characterised in that an enlarged chamber (16) is disposed upstream of the deposit head (2) and a peripherally extending catch channel (10) is disposed between the chamber (16) and the deposit head (2), and that a supply connection (9) for the sterilising agent projects radially into the enlarged chamber (16) at a defined operational safety spacing relative to the catch channel (10), preferably to a position beyond the centre of the chamber.
  5. A device according to claim 4 characterised in that the catch channel (10) has a drain connection (10a).
  6. A device according to claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the needle electrode is formed by a wire (13) disposed in a ceramic tube (11) which is arranged at the centre of the deposit head (2) and which is connected at its end to the central tube of the deposit head (2) by way of sealing means (12a, 12b).
  7. A device according to claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the needle electrode is in the form of a tip member (17) which can be releasably fitted into or on to the central tube of the deposit head (2) and which can be brought into communication with a feed line (18) extending in the central tube.
  8. A device according to claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the deposit head (2) is provided on its outside and inside surfaces with a rupture-resistant coating which is resistant to heat and chemicals.
  9. A device according to claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the deposit head (2) is so arranged that the sterilising agent is guided vertically from below or horizontally against the container surfaces to be coated.
EP87118127A 1986-12-24 1987-12-08 Device for disinfecting food containers Expired - Lifetime EP0272538B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19863644486 DE3644486A1 (en) 1986-12-24 1986-12-24 DEVICE FOR DISinfecting FOOD CONTAINERS
DE3644486 1986-12-24

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0272538A2 EP0272538A2 (en) 1988-06-29
EP0272538A3 EP0272538A3 (en) 1989-12-27
EP0272538B1 true EP0272538B1 (en) 1992-02-19

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ID=6317232

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87118127A Expired - Lifetime EP0272538B1 (en) 1986-12-24 1987-12-08 Device for disinfecting food containers

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US (1) US4900527A (en)
EP (1) EP0272538B1 (en)
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GB2246955A (en) * 1990-08-16 1992-02-19 Jonathan Hugh Lambert Copus Destruction of microorganisms by electrical means
GB2246955B (en) * 1990-08-16 1994-04-06 Jonathan Hugh Lambert Copus Destruction of microorganisms
EP0801952A2 (en) * 1996-04-20 1997-10-22 Rüdiger Haaga GmbH Sterilizing apparatus for the inner surfaces of pressure-sensitive containers
DE19727942A1 (en) * 1997-07-01 1999-01-07 Gea Finnah Gmbh Machine and method for closing bottles with caps
WO1999001374A1 (en) 1997-07-01 1999-01-14 Gea Finnah Gmbh Method and facility for sealing bottles with sterile sealing caps
DE19727942C2 (en) * 1997-07-01 1999-04-15 Gea Finnah Gmbh Machine and method for closing bottles with caps

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0272538A3 (en) 1989-12-27
EP0272538A2 (en) 1988-06-29
JPS63218031A (en) 1988-09-12
DE3644486A1 (en) 1988-07-07
US4900527A (en) 1990-02-13
DE3776773D1 (en) 1992-03-26

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