Method and device for sterilizing closure elements for packaging containers, and use thereof
A method for sterilizing closure elements ( 3 ) for packaging containers ( 1 ), wherein the closure elements ( 3 ) are collected individually by a holding mechanism ( 25 ) in the region of a sterile chamber ( 12 ) and are placed onto an opening ( 4 ) of a filled packaging container ( 1 ) and connected to the latter, and wherein the closure elements ( 3 ), while being conveyed inside the sterile chamber ( 12 ), are treated by means of at least one sterilizing medium ( 6, 7, 52 ) during a sterilizing process.
1. A method for sterilizing closure elements ( 3 ) for packaging containers ( 1 ), wherein the closure elements ( 3 ) are collected individually by a respective holding mechanism ( 25 ) in the region of a sterile chamber ( 12 ) and are placed onto an opening ( 4 ) of a respective filled packaging container ( 1 ) and connected to the packaging container, wherein the closure elements ( 3 ), while being conveyed inside the sterile chamber ( 12 ), are treated by at least one sterilizing medium ( 6 , 7 , 52 ) during a sterilizing process, and wherein the holding mechanism ( 25 ) holds the closure element ( 3 ) successively at different locations of the closure element ( 3 ) in such a way that, during the sterilizing process, all surfaces (A, B) of the closure element ( 3 ) come temporarily into operative connection with at least one sterilizing medium ( 6 , 7 , 52 ),
wherein the holding mechanism ( 25 ) has a plurality of holding elements ( 46 ) in the form of suction cups ( 50 ) that are configured to contact the closure element ( 3 ) and, in order to bring the suction cups ( 50 ) out of contact with the closure element ( 3 ), a medium at an overpressure acts on the closure element ( 3 ) through the suction cups ( 50 ).
2. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sterilization of the closure elements ( 3 ) comprises a first phase in which hot air acts as the at least one sterilizing medium ( 6 , 52 ) on the closure elements ( 3 ), a second phase in which vaporous sterilizing agent acts as the at least one sterilizing medium ( 7 ), and a third phase in which the closure elements ( 3 ) are dried with hot air, wherein at least during the first and second phases the closure elements ( 3 ), in the region of the all surfaces (A, B), come into operative connection with the sterilizing medium ( 6 , 7 , 52 ).
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one sterilizing medium ( 7 ) contains hydrogen peroxide.
4. A device ( 10 ) for sterilizing closure elements ( 3 ) for packaging containers ( 1 ), the device comprising a holding mechanism ( 25 ) for holding in each case one closure element ( 3 ) in the region of a sterile chamber ( 12 ), and a sterilizing mechanism ( 35 ) for at least one sterilizing medium ( 6 , 7 , 52 ) for sterilizing the closure elements ( 3 ) in the region of the sterile chamber ( 12 ), wherein the holding mechanism ( 25 ) has a plurality of holding elements ( 46 ) for in each case one closure element ( 3 ), which holding elements ( 46 ) are alternately arranged temporarily out of contact with the closure element ( 3 ) in order to allow the at least one sterilizing medium ( 6 , 7 , 52 ) to act on the closure element ( 3 ),
characterized in that the holding elements ( 46 ) are configured in the form of suction cups ( 50 ) and, in order to bring the suction cups ( 50 ) out of contact with the closure element ( 3 ), the suction cups ( 50 ) are configured such that a medium at an overpressure acts on the closure element ( 3 ) through the suction cups ( 50 ).
5. The device according to claim 4 , characterized in that the medium at an overpressure is hot air.
6. The device according to claim 4 , characterized in that a plurality of holding elements ( 46 ) assigned to a closure element ( 3 ) are arranged simultaneously in holding contact with the closure element ( 3 ).
7. The device according to claim 4 , characterized in that the holding elements ( 46 ) are arranged in a radially protruding manner on a conveying star ( 20 ) rotatable about a rotation axle ( 16 ) inside the sterile chamber ( 12 ).
8. The device according to claim 7 , characterized in that the holding elements ( 46 ) are arranged radially movably with respect to the rotation axle ( 16 ) in order to collect an individual closure element ( 3 ) from the closure elements ( 3 ), which are stacked on top of each other in a magazine ( 30 ), and in order to place the individual closure element ( 3 ) onto an opening ( 4 ) of a filled packaging container ( 1 ).
9. The device according to claim 7 , characterized in that, on the conveying path of the closure elements ( 3 ) inside the sterile chamber ( 12 ), a plurality of sterilizing elements ( 36 , 38 , 40 ) are arranged as part of the sterilizing mechanism ( 35 ) for the closure elements ( 3 ).
10. The device according to claim 9 , characterized in that the sterilizing elements ( 36 , 38 , 40 ) are nozzle-like.
11. The device according to claim 7 , wherein a plurality of holding mechanisms ( 25 ) are provided each for a respective closure element ( 3 ), and wherein the holding mechanisms ( 25 ) are arranged on the conveying star ( 20 ) at uniform angle distances about the rotation axle ( 16 ).
12. A method for sterilizing deformable closure elements ( 3 ) in the form of flat closure lids in the region of a filling installation ( 100 ) for foods such as yoghurt or the like, the method utilizing the device according to claim 3 .
13. A method for sterilizing deformable closure elements ( 3 ) in the form of flat closure lids in the region of a filling installation ( 100 ) for foods such as yoghurt or the like, the method comprising performing the method according to claim 1 .