Apparatus for the sterilization of packaging material

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR THE STERILIZATION OF PACKAGING MATERIAL OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A CONTAINER CONTAINING STERILIzING LIQUID CONSTITUTING A STERILIZING BATH THROUGH WHICH THE PACKAGING MATERIAL IS DRAWN AND GUIDED, SAID CONTAINER DEFINING AN ENTRY PORTION AND AN EXIT PORTION, GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING THE PACKAGING MATERIAL THROUGH THE BATH, SAID GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO ELEMENTS WHICH ENGAGE THE PACKAGING MATERIAL WHILE IT IS BEING DRAWN THROUGH THE BATH, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS BEING DISPOSED WITHIN THE BATH AND THE OTHER OF THE ELEMENTS BEING DISPOSED OUTSIDE OF THE BATH, SAID OTHER OF THE ELEMENTS BEING TO GUIDE THE PACKAGING MATERIAL INTO THE BATH, A DEVICE FOR LOOSENING ANY CONTAMINANTS ADHERING TO THE PACKAGING MATERIAL AND A DRYING INSTALLATION DISPOSED SUBSEQUENT TO THE STERILIZING BATH, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A. LIQUID SCOURING MEANS SERVING AS SAID LOOSENING DEVICE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE NOZZLE, ADJACENT TO THE PACKAGING MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE ENTRY PORTION OF THE CONTAINER AND LOCATED TO SPRAY A HIGH VELOCITY STREAM OF STERILIZING LIQUID AT SAID PACKAGING MATERIAL DURING THE PASSAGE THEREOF BETWEEN SAID ONE OF AND THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS SO AS TO HIT THE PACKAGING MATERIAL OVER ITS ENTIRE WIDTH, FOR LOOSENING THE CONTAMINANTS; AND B. GAS SCOURING MEANS SERVING AS SAID DRYING INSTALLATION INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE NOZZLE DISPOSED AT A LOCATION ADJACENT THE EXIT PORTION OF THE CONTAINER THROUGH WHICH A CURTAIN OF A STERILE GAS STREAMS OBLIQUELY DOWNWARD ONTO THE PACKAGING MATERIAL AT HIGH VELOCITY, FOR DRYING THE PACKAGING MATERIAL.