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:
Dec. 02, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2003
Ronald Swank, Woodstock, IL (US);
Ronald Swank, Woodstock, IL (US);
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, SA, Pully, CH;
Abstract
An automatic, continuous sterilization system is for use in a form, fill and seal packaging machine for forming, filling and sealing packages. The machine has a turret carrying a plurality of mandrels on which the packages are carried. A bottom panel heating station has a reciprocating bottom panel heater. The sterilization system includes a sterilant source for supplying a sterilant and a sterilant inlet at the bottom panel heater. Packages are positioned on one of the plurality of mandrels and are indexed to the bottom panel heater. The sterilant is introduced to the mandrel when the carton is positioned thereon. Introduction of the sterilant provides a log reduction of microbial colony forming units of at least about 5.9 after ten minutes of machine operation. A method for continuous mandrel sterilization is also disclosed.