The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 22, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 28, 1997
Kenneth M Eno, Burnsville, MN (US);
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, SA, Pully, CH;
Abstract
A packaging machine having a plurality of processing stations is used to form, fill, and seal a carton having interior surfaces and exterior surfaces. The packaging machine includes a sterilization station. The sterilization station comprises a conveyor for transporting the carton through various ones of the processing stations along a processing path, a source of ultraviolet emissions, and an irradiation chamber. The irradiation chamber comprises a plurality of reflecting surfaces substantially surrounding the carton as it passes therethrough along the processing path. The plurality of reflecting surfaces direct ultraviolet light from the source of ultraviolet emissions to irradiate and thereby sanitize the interior surfaces and the exterior surfaces of the container. Preferably, the irradiation chamber comprises an upper parabolic reflecting surface disposed to direct ultraviolet light from the source of ultraviolet emissions downward, a pair of side reflecting surfaces disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor to direct ultraviolet light from the source of ultraviolet emissions toward exterior sides of the cartion, and a lower parabolic reflector disposed to direct ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet source upward.