Method and apparatus for the sterilization of containers with cleaning of a radiation outlet window

1. A method of operating an apparatus for the sterilization of plastics material containers comprising:

generating charge carriers in a working operation and conveying the charge carriers through a guide chamber to emerge from the guide chamber through an outlet window bounding the guide chamber;

introducing the outlet window into the plastics material containers at least in part through an aperture of the aforesaid plastics material containers during sterilization of the plastics material containers; and

cleaning the outlet window with a flowable cleaning medium in a cleaning operation of the apparatus by introducing the outlet window into a container which contains the cleaning medium.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

acting upon the outlet window with a liquid cleaning medium employed in the cleaning operation of the apparatus.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

cooling the outlet window at least for a time by action of a gaseous medium during the working operation.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

removing at least one element of a device for cooling the outlet window from the guide chamber before commencing the cleaning operation.

5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

acting upon the outlet window with at least two different flowable media for the cleaning thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet window is dipped into a bath of liquid for cleaning.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning medium comprises an acid.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning medium comprises a lye.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the outlet window is acted upon by at least one cleaning medium for a period of time which is greater than 5 minutes.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

removing gas present at the outlet window before or during the cleaning operation.

11. The method according to claim 2 , comprising:

cooling the outlet window at least for a time by action of a gaseous medium during the working operation.

12. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the outlet window is dipped into a bath of liquid for cleaning.

13. The method according to claim 2 , wherein at least one cleaning medium comprises an acid.

14. The method according to claim 2 , wherein at least one cleaning medium comprises a lye.

15. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the outlet window is acted upon by at least one cleaning medium for a period of time which is greater than 5 minutes.

16. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

cleaning the outlet window at times other than during the working operation.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning medium is of a type used to sterilize plastics material containers.

18. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

filling those containers, into which the outlet windows are dipped, at least in part, with a cleaning medium by a filling device.

19. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps in sequence of:

filling the plurality of containers, into which the outlet windows are to be dipped, at least in part, with a first cleaning medium;

dipping the outlet windows into the containers for a pre-set period of time;

emptying the containers;

refilling the containers at least in part with a second cleaning liquid; and

again dipping the outlet windows into the containers.