FR2669299A1 - APPARATUS FOR APPLYING GERMICIDE TO PACKAGING MEANS. - Google Patents

Abstract

This apparatus comprises a pump and a spray nozzle followed by a heated tube for applying the sprayed germicide into packaging containers. To monitor the correct supply of germicide and ensure a uniform sterilization rate, the apparatus is provided with a flow meter (21) and a degassing device (20). The latter has two compartments separated by an essentially vertical filtering wall. The supply pipe (15) coming from the pump (10) opens into the lower part of the first compartment and a pipe (28) for the evacuation of bubbles and foam starts from the upper part of this compartment. The lower part of the second compartment is connected by a pipe (16) for the degassed germicide to the spray nozzle (23). Applicable to the continuous sterilization of packaging containers.

Description

The invention starts from an apparatus for applying germicide to means

  packaging, comprising a pump carrying the liquid germicide from a supply, a germicide dispensing device fed to the packaging means and a control device monitoring the delivery of the germicide and which is interposed in the pipeline between the pump and the dispensing device. In a device of this type that we know

  In the document DE-OS 38 24 923 for example the germination

  acid, eg hydrogen peroxide (H 202), is trans-

  carried from a reserve to a spray nozzle by which it is sprayed and the fog is then vaporized in a heated tube Steam is introduced

  in packaging containers for sterilization

  It is also known in practice

  interpose a flow meter in the supply line

  tion, by which can be controlled the supply of liquid H 202 to the spray nozzle and, as a result, the proper exposure of the walls of the packaging containers steam of H 202 However, it has been found that the germicidal supply and therefore the sterilization of some packaging containers are frequently disturbed briefly when small

  gas bubbles form or enter the pipeline.

  It is therefore desirable to avoid the presence of gas bubbles in

the germicide brought.

  For this purpose, according to the invention, an apparatus as defined at the beginning is characterized in that a degassing device is installed in the pipeline in front of the control device and / or the device of

  distribution in the direction of flow.

  An apparatus thus produced has the advantage that the small gas bubbles or foams contained or formed in the germicide fed are eliminated with certainty, so that the sterilization of the packaging containers or other packaging materials is

performed properly.

  According to another characteristic of the invention

  the degassing device has a chamber

  divided into two compartments by a separating wall

  essentially vertical filtration material, the inlet pipe of the pump opening into the lower part of the first compartment and a degassing connection from the upper part of the first compartment, while an outlet pipe for the germicide is disposed essentially in the game

bottom of the second compartment.

  This ensures that the germicide introduced into the first compartment of the chamber is calmed while the small gas bubbles possibly present rise in the upper part of this compartment, where they can then be discharged through the degassing connection, and that the liquid germicide which has passed through the pores of the filter wall, reaches through the second compartment of the chamber and as a uniform stream to the spray nozzle.

  Other features, notably allowing

  particularly simple achievement of the

  and fault-free operation, as well as other advantages, will emerge more clearly from

  following description of an exemplary embodiment

  non-limiting, as well as the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagram of an apparatus according to the invention for applying germicides in packaging containers; and FIG. 2 is an axial section of a degassing device forming part of the apparatus

shown in Figure 1.

  A pump 10, for example a gear pump,

  bath, sucks liquid germicide, for example H 1202 e from a tank 11, through a suction line 13 and a sieve or filter 14, and delivers it continuously through pressure pipe sections, 16, 17 and 18 and through a degassing device, a flowmeter 21 and a valve 22 to a spray nozzle 23 which protrudes into a heated tube 24 whose free end 25 is directed downwards on containers of packaging 26 transported in front of this end of the tube The oxygenated water supplied to the spray nozzle 23, is projected in the form of a

  fog in the heated tube 24, where it is vapo-

  In order to monitor and control the proper application of germicide in the packaging containers 26, a pressure meter 16, 17 has been interposed in the pressure line 21 to which a recorder 27 or monitor is connected. The flowmeter 21 may also be used.

  to adjust the flow of the germicide fed.

  In addition to the portion 16 of the pressure line, the degassing device 20 also has a degassing line 28 which leads through an adjustable limiter 29 into the tank 11. In addition, a return line 31 containing a valve 32 and a limiter 33, is branched downstream of the flowmeter 21 and serves to reduce the germicide pumped by the pump into the reservoir 11

  in case of interruption of work or during the preparation

  tion, while the valve 22 is closed.

  The degassing device 20 (FIG. 2) comprises a body 40 with a cylindrical bore forming a blind hole 41 extending from bottom to top and whose bottom is in the form of a cone 42, whereas the opening in The cylindrical chamber is divided by a dividing wall 46 into a first cylindrical compartment 48 and a second compartment 49 into a cylindrical compartment 48. hollow cylinder shape and surrounding the first; the wall 46 is also in the form of a hollow cylinder, it rests on a pipe 47 of the plug 43 and is pressed against the cone 42 In the lower part of the first compartment 48 opens, through the plug 43, an orifice 51 which is connected to the pressure or delivery line 15 from the pump 10 and through which

  the introduced germicide is introduced into the first

  Part 45 of the chamber 45 The germicide thus introduced, under a pressure of about 2 to 10 bar, settles in the chamber 45 and small gas bubbles or foams that it contains, rise, in

  because of their lower density, in order to

  1 emerges in the tip of the hollow cone 42 It is in this tip, so in the upper part of the first compartment 48 of the chamber 45, that opens an orifice 42 which is connected to the degassing pipe 28 The small bubbles rising in the cone 42, are driven by a portion of the germicide whose flow rate is adjusted by means of the limiter 29, to the tank 1, where they can escape from the liquid The remaining liquid portion of the germicide seeps through the pores of the partition wall 46 the first compartment 48 in the second compartment 49 of the chamber 45 from there, it reaches through an outlet orifice 53 of the lower part of the chamber 45 in the pressure line 16, 17, 18 leading to the flowmeter 21 and to the nozzle

spraying 23.

  The partition wall 46, made of filter material, acts as a membrane and prevents the passage of small bubbles of gas therethrough, but instead directs them upwards, thus towards the evacuation, because it is oriented approximately vertically With a germicide thus cleared of small gas bubbles and foams, a high and uniform sterilization flow rate of the packaging containers is obtained.

  It should also be noted, in addition, that the

  However, it is essential that the permeable separating wall be directed upwards and that the degassing orifice be disposed in

  the upper part of the plenum.

Claims (2)

CLAIMS Apparatus for applying germicide to packaging means, comprising a pump carrying liquid germicide from a supply, a device dispensing the germicide fed to the packaging means and a control device monitoring the born from the germicide and which is interposed in the pipeline between the pump and the dispensing device, characterized in that a degassing device (20) is installed in the pipe (13, 15, 16, 17 and 18) in front the control device (21) and / or the dispensing device (23, 24) in the direction of flow. 2 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the degassing device (20) has a chamber (45) divided into two compartments (48, 49) by a partition wall (46) substantially vertical filter material, the pipe d the inlet (15) of the pump (10) opening into the lower part of the first compartment (48) and a degassing connection (52) extending from the upper part of the first compartment (48), while an outlet pipe ( 53) for the germicide is disposed substantially in the lower part of the second compartment (49). 3 Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the chamber (45) is in the form of a cylindrical bore (41) and the wall separator (46) is in the form of a hollow cylinder.   4 Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the cylindrical bore (41) is a blind hole open at the bottom with a plug (43) closing the opening, receiving the inlet pipe (51) and carrying the partition wall (46) hollow cylindrical shape on a tubing (47).   5 Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom of the blind hole (41) is formed as a hollow cone (42) in the tip of which opens   the orifice for the degassing connection (52).