Method of and apparatus for sterilizing packaging material, especially container-type packages

Claim 1

In an apparatus for packaging a product in containers and comprising a sterilizing station and conveying means for the intermittent conveyance of containers to the sterilizing station, and an improved means for sterilizing the containers in the sterilizing station comprising: a reservoir accommodating a liquid disinfectant, a source of compressed air, a vaporizing nozzle in communication with the reservoir through a disinfectant-supply line and with the source of compressed air through a compressed-air supply line, means for intermittently opening and closing the vaporizing nozzle, whereby the compressed air vaporizes the disinfectant and a mixture of liquid disinfectant in fine droplets and compressed air is ejected in the form of a jet having an axis when the nozzle is open, a tube with a longitudinal axis, with an intake end and an output end, and with an inner surface, wherein the tube is positioned with its intake end in flow communication with the nozzle, and the longitudinal axis of the tube is substantially parallel to said axis of the jet and wherein the output end of the tube extends inside a container in the sterilizing station, and heating means on the tube for heating the inner surface of the tube to a temperature that is sufficiently high to rapidly evaporate the disinfectant in the mixture, whereby the mixture of disinfectant and compressed air is blown into the intake end of the tube when the vaporizing nozzle is open such that the droplets of disinfectant in the mixture come into contact with the heated inner surface and rapidly evaporate and a mixed flow of compressed air and evaporated disinfectant leaves the output end and enters the container.