CHAMBER AND METHOD FOR STERILIZATION TREATMENT AND MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING PACKAGES

摘要

A chamber (26, 58, 96) for sterilization treatment of an object of packaging material passing through the chamber, and a method for sterilization treatment of an object of packaging material, as well as a machine for producing packages comprising such a chamber, and a process for producing packages comprising such a method, are provided. The chamber comprises a device (36, 68, 98) for determining a concentration of a sterilization agent in a gas mixture inside the chamber and means (32, 66) for maintaining a higher pressure inside the chamber than outside the chamber at an object exit opening (30, 86) thereof. The chamber is characterized in that the device comprises a catalyst (38, 7Q, 100), an outlet (42, 78, 114) of the catalyst being connected to an outside of the chamber and an inlet (44, 80, 116) of the catalyst being connected to an inside of the chamber so that the higher pressure inside the chamber forces the gas mixture through the catalyst for decomposition of the sterilization agent. The device further comprises thermometers (46, 88) for measuring a temperature difference across the catalyst, gas flow measurement means, and processing means (50) for determining, based on the temperature difference and the gas flow measurement, the concentration of the sterilization agent in the gas mixture inside the chamber.