US4808782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microwave irradiating sterilization process
Assignee: Toppan Inc
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Filing: 1987-11-19
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Granted: 1989-02-28
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Expires: 2007-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A process for sterilizing a material contained in a sealed microwave permeable package which is stored, under normal pressure, in a heat resisting and pressure resisting support during microwave irradiation. The heat resisting and pressure resisting support is conveyed on a conveyor belt into a plurality of microwave heating chambers in which local heating waveguides are provided in close proximity to the heat resisting and pressure resisting support and overall heating waveguides are provided at the wall of the microwave heating chambers. The heat resisting and pressure resisting support with the package is alternately irradiated by the local heating waveguides and the overally heating waveguides during conveyance through the microwave heating chambers so as to effect the substantially uniform heating of the material in the package. To regulate the degree to which the peripheral portions of the package are heated, the distance between the local heating waveguides and the package can be adjusted. To further facilitate the substantially uniform heating of the material in the package, the heat resisting and pressure resisting support containing the package can be inverted during conveyance.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiro Nakagawa
- 👤 Takeo Tomatsuri
- 👤 Ikuo Ozaki
- 👤 Kiichiro Hirose
- 👤 Yukie Sato
- 👤 Tamami Ohzeki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:44
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/78; A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/05; A23B2/08; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/122; B01J19/126; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/08; B01J2219/12; B01J2219/1203; B01J2219/1206; B01J2219/1209; B01J2219/1221; B01J2219/1224; B01J2219/1227; H05B2206/00; H05B2206/04; H05B2206/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A process for sterilizing by microwave irradiation a material in a sealed microwave permeable package, said process comprising the steps of: placing said package into the cavity of a heat and pressure resisting support so that said package is maintained at a normal pressure and does not transfer heat to said support; conveying said support with said package therein through microwave irradiation areas; and alternately irradiating said package with local heating waveguides to locally irradiate the peripheral portions of said package and overall heating waveguides to irradiate the entire package, thereby effecting the substantially uniform heating of said material in said package.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A process for sterilizing by microwave irradiation a material in a sealed microwave permeable package, said process comprising the steps of: placing said package into the cavity of a heat and pressure resisting support so that said package is maintained at a normal pressure and does not transfer heat to said support; conveying said support with said package therein through microwave irradiation areas; and alternately irradiating said package with local heating waveguides to locally irradiate the peripheral portions of said package and overall heating waveguides to irradiate the entire package, thereby effecting the substantially uniform heating of said material in said package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process claimed in claim 1, including the step of adjusting said local heating waveguides to a distance between 10 to 100 mm from said package prior to local irradiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process claimed in claim 1, including the step of inverting said support with said package therein at least once during conveyance thereof so as to facilitate the substantially uniform heating of said material in said package.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process claimed in claim 1, wherein said alternate irradiation commences with local irradiation with a local heating waveguide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process claimed in claim 1, wherein the irradiation with said local heating waveguides is effected from beneath said conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process claimed in claim 1, wherein the local irradiation with said local heating waveguides is effected from both above and beneath said conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process claimed in claim 1, wherein the local irradiation is accompanied by a plurality of local heating waveguides, each of said plurality of local heating waveguides being directed to a different location on said package.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process claimed in claim 7, wherein said different locations are displaced along the direction of said conveying of said packages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process claimed in claim 7, wherein said different locations are displaced at locations spaced perpendicularly to said direction of said conveying of said package.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process claimed in claim 1, wherein said support with said package are intermittently conveyed so as to be in a stopped position during local irradiation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process claimed in claim 1, wherein said local irradiation is accomplished by a plurality of local heating waveguides situated beneath said conveyor means, each of said local heating waveguides being directed at a different portion of said package.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process claimed in claim 1, wherein said support with said package are conveyed through microwave irradiation chambers having overall heating waveguides, each microwave irradiation chamber having a volume within 0.05 m 3 to 0.5 m 3 so as to facilitate the substantially uniform heating of said material in said package.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process claimed in claim 1, wherein said package is placed in a support having two supporting plates with a clearance between 0.5 to 3 mm therebetween so as to reduce the heat released through said clearance during irradiation of said material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process claimed in claim 1, including the step of providing a microwave heatable member in the cavity of said heat and pressure resisting support.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |