Apparatus and method of sterilizing containers with a charge carrier source introduced into the containers

摘要

A method of sterilizing containers, and in particular of plastics material containers is disclosed, wherein an inner wall of the containers is sterilized by being acted upon with charge carriers. A sterilization device which includes a charge generation device is introduced into the container (10 ) through an opening in the container and generates the charge carriers in the interior of the container.

主权项

1. In the production of a container, a method of sterilizing an inner wall of the container by action of charge carriers, which comprises introducing a charge carrier generation device, comprising an electrical conductor, having an acceleration voltage below 100 kV by flowing a current through the conductor, directly into a plastic material pre-form for the container through an opening in the plastic material pre-form, and generating charge carriers in an interior of the plastic material pre-form, wherein an under-pressure of between 0.0001 mbar and 800 mbar, is generated inside the plastic material pre-form at least for a time before or during the sterilization procedure, providing an electron conduction device, in the form of a sleeve which is acted upon with positive charge, to direct the charge carriers in a direction of the inner wall of the plastic material pre-form, said sleeve surrounding the plastics material pre-form both on its sidewall and also on its bottom region.