U.S. patent application number 13/584424 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-22 for apparatus for sterilising plastic containers having a protection device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Guenter Frankenberger, Josef Knott, Hans Scheuren. Invention is credited to Guenter Frankenberger, Josef Knott, Hans Scheuren.
Application Number | 20130216430 13/584424 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46934389 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130216430 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Knott; Josef ; et
al. |
August 22, 2013 |
APPARATUS FOR STERILISING PLASTIC CONTAINERS HAVING A PROTECTION
DEVICE
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for sterilising containers including a
movable carrier on which a plurality of sterilisation units are
provided, which sterilisation units respectively include a charge
carrier source, as well as a rod-like body that is designed such
that it can be inserted into the inner space of the containers
through a mouth, with an exit window provided on the rod-like body,
through which exit window the charge carriers can exit, with a
plurality of holding units for holding the containers, the holding
units being movable relative to the rod-like bodies in a
longitudinal direction of the rod-like bodies. The apparatus
includes a protection device that causes the rod-like bodies to be
at least partially arranged within the protective bodies in a
specified mode of the apparatus.
Inventors: |
Knott; Josef; (Schierling,
DE) ; Frankenberger; Guenter; (Koefering, DE)
; Scheuren; Hans; (Regensburg, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Knott; Josef
Frankenberger; Guenter
Scheuren; Hans |
Schierling
Koefering
Regensburg |
|
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
46934389 |
Appl. No.: |
13/584424 |
Filed: |
August 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/22 ;
250/453.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2/087 20130101;
B65B 55/08 20130101; B29C 49/4252 20130101; A61L 2/08 20130101;
B29C 49/10 20130101; A61L 2202/23 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/22 ;
250/453.11 |
International
Class: |
A61L 2/08 20060101
A61L002/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 19, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 052 862.8 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for sterilising containers with a movable carrier,
on which a plurality of sterilisation units are arranged, the
sterilisation units respectively including one source of radiation
and in particular one source of charge carriers, as well as a
rod-like body designed in such a way that it can be inserted into
the inner space of the containers through a mouth, with an exit
window provided on the rod-like body, through which exit window the
charge carriers can exit, with a plurality of holding units for
holding the containers, the holding units being movable relative to
the rod-like bodies in a longitudinal direction of the rod-like
bodies, wherein the apparatus comprises a protection device which
causes the rod-like bodies to be at least partially arranged within
the protective bodies in a specified mode of the apparatus.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protection
device includes a movement mechanism for moving the protective
bodies in the longitudinal direction of the rod-like bodies, which
protection device causes the rod-like bodies to be at least
partially inserted into the protective bodies in the specified
mode.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is a
rotatable carrier.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the specified
mode of operation, the protective bodies are arranged in a
contact-free manner relative to the rod-like bodies.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus
includes a cleaning unit for cleaning the apparatus.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each sterilisation
unit includes at least one electric motor drive unit for at least
one of moving the holding units relative to the rod-like bodies and
for moving the protective bodies relative to the rod-like bodies in
the longitudinal direction of the rod-like bodies.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protection unit
ensures that the containers to be sterilised serve as protective
bodies.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus has
at least one stabilisation unit in order to fix the protective
bodies relative to the rod-like bodies.
9. A method for operating an apparatus for sterilising containers
and in particular plastic containers, wherein the containers to be
sterilised are each held and are transported along a predefined
path by means of a movable carrier, and wherein a plurality of
sterilisation units arranged on the carrier are provided, each of
which have rod-like bodies that are introduced into the containers
through a mouth of the containers and apply charge carriers onto an
internal wall of the containers, which charge carriers exit through
an exit window of the rod-like bodies, and wherein a relative
movement of the containers in a longitudinal direction of the
rod-like bodies relative to the rod-like bodies is carried out so
as to insert the rod-like bodies into the containers, wherein in a
further mode of the apparatus, the rod-like bodies are each
inserted into protective bodies which at least partially surround
said rod-like bodies, and this insertion is also carried out by way
of a relative movement between the protective bodies and the
rod-like bodies in a longitudinal direction of the rod-like
bodies.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein all of the rod-like
bodies are inserted into the protective bodies in this mode.
11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein two consecutive
cleaning and/or sterilisation processes are carried out in this
mode.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method
for sterilising containers and in particular plastic containers.
Various methods for sterilising containers are known from the prior
art. So for example, it is known to apply a liquid and/or gaseous
medium such as for example H.sub.2O.sub.2 to containers. Apart from
that, also apparatus and methods have recently become known,
wherein radiation and/or charge carriers has/have been applied to
the containers for the purpose of sterilisation. In doing so, it is
possible to insert a beam finger into the inside of the containers
and to irradiate this container from the inside with charge
carriers and in particular with electrons. These beam fingers have
to be designed to be relatively delicate and/or respectively
thin-walled so as to ensure on the one hand that the finger can be
inserted through the mouth into the inside of the container and on
the other hand to enable also the required high electron
accelerations to be achieved. Further, such apparatus often include
also cooling devices for cooling an exit window for the charge
carriers.
[0002] As a result of the above, such sterilisation devices are
very sensitive for example to contamination or aggressive cleaning
agents, but in particular to shocks. In practice, therefore,
breakdowns and failures often occur for example as a result of
knocks against these beam fingers, in particular during cleaning or
maintenance operations.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention is therefore based on the object of
providing an apparatus and a method that provide improved
protection of the apparatus for sterilising the containers.
[0004] An apparatus according to the invention for sterilising
containers includes a movable carrier, on which a plurality of
sterilisation units are arranged, wherein each sterilisation unit
has a source of radiation or respectively a radiation emitting
device and/or a charge carrier source, as well as a rod-like body
that is designed such that it can be inserted into the inner space
of the container through a mouth. Further, an exit window is
provided on the rod-like body, through which the charge carriers
can exit. Further, a plurality of holding units for holding the
containers are provided, said holding units being movable relative
to the rod-like body in a longitudinal direction of the rod-like
bodies.
[0005] According to the invention, the apparatus includes a
protection device to ensure that the rod-like bodies are arranged
at least partially within protective bodies in a specified mode of
operation.
[0006] The invention will be described below with reference to
charge carrier emitters and in particular to electron emitters. Due
to the high sensitivity of such charge carrier emitters, the
invention is particularly advantageous also for this purpose.
However, it is to be noted that the invention can also be applied
to different radiation emitting devices such as in particular UV
lamps, X-ray emitters or radioactive emitters, which can in
particular be inserted into the containers.
[0007] It is therefore proposed that in at least one mode of the
apparatus, special protective measures for protecting in particular
the rod-like bodies, but also for example the exit window are
taken. In particular, therefore, protection for the beam fingers
during cleaning and sterilisation operations of the system is to be
provided. It is therefore proposed to move or traverse during these
operations for example corresponding containers over the rod-like
bodies to be protected.
[0008] A mode is in particular understood to mean a mode of
operation of the apparatus, but it is not necessary that containers
are sterilised during this mode of operation. For example, also the
repair of the system or the cleaning thereof can be understood to
be such a mode. However, this will preferably be a mode in which at
least one drive of the apparatus can be activated, such as for
example a drive that can effect a lifting or lowering movement of
the holding unit. Also, assembly and disassembly operations of
parts of the apparatus may be carried out within such a mode,
however, the assembly, i.e. the (initial) installation of the
entire system in particular is not regarded as a mode of operation
in terms of the invention.
[0009] As mentioned above, the rod-like bodies can be moved
relative to the holding devices or respectively relative to the
containers held by these holding devices. In this context it is
possible for the holding devices to be movable in the longitudinal
direction of the containers, however it would also be possible for
the rod-like bodies themselves to be moved and also for both the
rod-like bodies and the holding devices to be moved. The charge
carriers are in particular electrons.
[0010] In a further advantageous method, all of the rod-like bodies
are respectively moved into the protective bodies in said mode.
Advantageously, the protective bodies completely surround at least
the exit window and particularly preferably they are terminated
towards the bottom or towards the end of the rod-like bodies.
[0011] However, it is also possible and preferable for the
protective bodies to surround a large part of the rod-like body and
preferably the entire rod-like body in the circumferential
direction thereof. Preferably, the protective bodies surround the
rod-like body over at least 30% of the length thereof, preferably
over at least 50% of the length thereof, preferably over at least
70% of the length thereof and particularly preferably over at least
90% of the length thereof.
[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment, the rod-like bodies
are provided on a carrier. The term protection means will
hereinafter be understood to mean the entire unit including the
protective bodies and any movement mechanisms for the protective
bodies. Advantageously, exactly one protective body, for example a
protective cover, is provided on each rod-like body in said mode.
Advantageously, once the rod-like body has been moved into the
protective body, an axis of symmetry of the rod-like body coincides
with an axis of symmetry of the protective body.
[0013] In this mode, in particular also those rod-like bodies are
provided with protective bodies or are respectively moved into
them, which in said mode are in positions in which no containers
are present during working operation. Such positions may for
example be positions between an outlet star wheel and an inlet star
wheel of the sterilisation apparatus.
[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment, the protection means
include a movement mechanism for moving the protective bodies in
the longitudinal direction of the rod-like bodies, which ensures
that the rod-like bodies have at least partially been inserted into
the protective body in the specified mode. Advantageously, as
mentioned above, all of the rod-like bodies have respectively been
inserted into the protective bodies partially and preferably in the
same way. This may again be a movement mechanism that moves the
protective bodies in the longitudinal direction of the containers
and in doing so pushes them for example over the rod-like bodies.
However, it would also be conceivable for the movement mechanism to
move the rod-like bodies themselves or respectively to move itself
into the protective bodies.
[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment, the carrier is a
rotatable carrier. In this embodiment, therefore, the apparatus is
a rotary machine.
[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment, the protective bodies
are arranged relative to the rod-like bodies in the specified mode
of operation in a contact-free manner. In this way it can be
achieved that any damage to the rod-like bodies will be avoided
also during the insertion operation of the rod-like bodies into the
protective bodies.
[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, the apparatus includes
a cleaning unit for cleaning the apparatus. This cleaning unit may
here include for example a plurality of jet nozzles which apply a
cleaning medium onto the apparatus or onto parts of the apparatus.
Thus, for example, stationary cleaning nozzles may be provided and
the individual cleaning units or sterilisation units may move
relative to these nozzles so as to be cleaned.
[0018] Apart from that, the apparatus may also include a
sterilisation unit for sterilising the apparatus itself. Also the
sterilisation process may here be carried out by means of cleaning
media, however, it would also be conceivable for the sterilisation
process again to be carried out by irradiation, such as by means of
UV irradiation or electron irradiation.
[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment, each sterilisation
unit has at least one electric motor drive unit for moving the
gripping elements relative to the rod-like bodies and/or for moving
the protective bodies relative to the rod-like bodies in the
longitudinal direction of the rod-like bodies. In the prior art,
cam rollers or respectively stationary cams are usually used for
moving such beam fingers.
[0020] However, in the case of the apparatus according to the
invention it is desired, for example during a cleaning operation,
to insert several and preferably all of the beam fingers--and in
particular independently from the rotary position of the
carrier--into their protective bodies. In this case therefore, a
unitary movement or orientation of all the protective bodies is
advantageous in this cleaning mode. It is therefore proposed to
decouple the movements of the individual protective bodies relative
to the beam fingers from each other. In other words, the electric
motor drives (e.g. linear motors and/or servomotors) ensure in
particular an independent movement of the individual gripping
elements or respectively even of the protective bodies relative to
the rod-like bodies. However, also pneumatic and/or hydraulic
drives may be considered for use as drives.
[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment, the protective device
ensures that the containers to be sterilised serve as protective
bodies. In this embodiment it is provided that no additional
protective bodies are present, but that the containers which are
sterilised during working operation serve as protective bodies at
the same time. These containers are relatively suitable because the
rod-like bodies have to be moved into them anyway. To this end it
is possible, for example in the cleaning mode, to move the
containers, i.e. bottles or preforms, over the rod-like bodies or
the beam fingers. Advantageously during this time, any emission of
radiation or any emission of charge carriers will be
interrupted.
[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment, the apparatus includes
at least one stabilisation unit in order to fix or respectively
sterilise the protective bodies relative to the rod-like bodies.
Thus, for example, a stop may be provided on which the containers
come to rest. In this way it can be achieved that not even a
somewhat harder knock against the protective body will cause any
damage to the beam fingers.
[0023] However, it would also be possible to provide a holder for
stabilising the containers for example from below.
[0024] The present invention is further directed to a method for
operating an apparatus for sterilising containers and in particular
plastic containers. Here, the containers to be sterilised are
respectively held and are transported along a predefined path by
means of a movable carrier. Here, a plurality of sterilisation
units arranged on the carrier may be provided, each of which have
rod-like bodies that are inserted into these containers through a
mouth and that apply charge carriers and/or radiation onto an
internal wall of the containers. In this process, these charge
carriers and/or the radiation exits through an exit window of the
rod-like body and a relative movement of the containers occurs in a
longitudinal direction of the rod-like bodies relative to the
rod-like bodies, in order to insert the rod-like bodies into the
containers.
[0025] According to the invention, in a further mode of the
apparatus, the rod-like bodies are each inserted into protective
bodies which at least partially surround said bodies, and this
insertion is also carried out by way of a relative movement between
the protective bodies and the rod-like bodies in a longitudinal
direction of the rod-like bodies.
[0026] As mentioned above, the radiation may be a radiation of
charge carriers, but there may also be other types of radiation
such as UV radiation. In the case of UV radiation, the exit window
may be chosen to be considerably larger than in the case of an
electron emitter and may for example completely surround the UV
light source.
[0027] This insertion of the rod-like bodies into the protective
body is performed in particular in order to carry out a cleaning
operation. Advantageously, the rod-like bodies are here moved into
the containers to be sterilised. However, it would also be possible
to provide additional bodies such as for example additional
protective covers.
[0028] In a further advantageous method, all of the rod-like bodies
are moved into the protective bodies substantially by the same
distance during said mode, which may for example be a cleaning
mode. This means that in this case protective bodies are also
provided in positions in which they are not present during working
operation, such as for example in the circumferential direction
between an outlet star wheel and an inlet star wheel of the
carrier.
[0029] Advantageously therefore, each sterilisation unit is
equipped with a protective body.
[0030] Advantageously in one method step, the apparatus is equipped
with protective bodies and particularly preferably each
sterilisation unit is equipped with a protective body. However,
this is in particular carried out automatically. It would also be
possible to equip initially each sterilisation unit with a
container prior to a cleaning operation and to insert the
respective beam finger or respectively rod-like body into this
container.
[0031] In a preferred method, two consecutive cleaning and/or
sterilisation processes are carried out in said mode.
[0032] One process can be carried out as follows:
[0033] after completion of the production process, each rod-like
body is moved into a protective body preferably by means of the
respective lifting mechanism. This protective body may be a special
protection shape, the container or a preform. Contrary to the
production operation, however, here all of the rod-like bodies are
arranged in a protective body.
[0034] Subsequently, the system is powered down, for example
temporarily stopped. In a further method step, the system can be
opened in order to carry out a cleaning operation. After this, the
system is preferably manually cleaned. In a further step, the
system may be closed (in particular using a safety protocol).
Finally, an automatic sterilisation of the system may be carried
out and the production process may finally be resumed.
[0035] In a further advantageous embodiment, therefore, the
apparatus also includes a clean room, into which the containers to
be sterilised are passed. This clean room can here advantageously
surround the transport path of the containers in a channel-like
manner. This means that the sterilisation of the containers is also
carried out under sterile conditions.
[0036] It would further also be conceivable for at least one wall
of the above-mentioned rotatable carrier to form at the same time a
wall of this clean room.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] Further advantages and embodiments will become evident from
the attached figures, wherein:
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus according to
the invention; and
[0039] FIGS. 2a,b show two views for illustrating the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a partially schematic view of an apparatus 1
according to the invention for sterilising containers 10. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the containers are plastic preforms 10,
the inner walls of which are to be sterilised here. The apparatus 1
according to the invention may be followed by further units within
the context of a container treatment system, such as for example a
stretch blow moulding machine that expands the plastic preforms
into containers, a heating unit for heating the plastic preforms
and the like. However, it would also be possible to use the
apparatus according to the invention for sterilising containers and
in particular plastic containers.
[0041] A plurality of sterilisation units, which are in their
entirety identified with 4, is provided on a rotatable carrier 2,
however, only one of these sterilisation units 4 is shown. These
sterilisation units 4 move together with the plastic containers to
be sterilised.
[0042] Each of the sterilisation units 4 includes a source of
charge carriers 42, which may in particular be an electron source.
Reference numeral 44 identifies an acceleration unit that
accelerates the charge carriers or respectively electrons in the
direction of and also through a rod-like body 12. An exit window
(not shown) is provided at the bottom end of this rod-like body 12,
through which the accelerated electrons can exit.
[0043] Apart from that, the sterilisation units preferably include
deflecting units (not shown), which direct or steer the charge
carriers also onto a lateral inner wall of the plastic
containers.
[0044] Reference numeral 14 identifies a holding unit such as a
gripping clamp that is used for holding the plastic preforms 10
during the sterilisation process. This holding unit 14 is here
movable in the longitudinal direction L of the plastic containers
10, in order to insert in this way the rod-like bodies 12 into the
inside of the plastic containers 10 through a mouth of the plastic
containers 10. A corresponding drive unit 24, which is here
implemented as an electric motor, in particular a linear motor,
effects the movement of the holding units 14 relative to the
rod-like bodies 12.
[0045] These drive units 24 are here also provided on a carrier 26,
wherein this carrier 26 rotates--like the carrier 2--about the
rotary axis D.
[0046] Reference numeral 30 identifies a clean room, within which
the plastic containers are sterilised. This room is here delimited
by the carrier 2, the carrier 26 and two further walls (not shown).
Here, in particular also a stationary outer wall 32 may be provided
which is only schematically shown in FIG. 1 and which delimits the
clean room 30 towards the outside. Advantageously, this outer wall
32 is arranged to be stationary, whereas the remaining walls
delimiting the clean room 30 move or rotate about the rotary axis
D.
[0047] In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one sealing
unit (not shown) is provided which seals these walls that are
movable relative to each other. An example of such a sealing unit
would be a so-called surge tank. However, it would also be possible
for the entire apparatus to be located within a clean room. It
would also be conceivable for the apparatus not to be located
within a clean room, for example if only a pre-sterilisation
operation of the plastic containers is to be carried out.
[0048] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the plastic
containers to be sterilised are used at the same time as protective
bodies 18. Thus, for example within the context of a cleaning
and/or sterilisation operation, the rod-like bodies 12 can be moved
into the plastic preforms. Preferably, however, the protective
bodies generally include a cavity into which the rod-like bodies
can be inserted. Advantageously the protective bodies, with the
exception of the opening through which the respective rod-like body
12 is inserted, have no further openings either. However, it would
also be conceivable for the protective bodies to have an opening at
the bottom end thereof, through which a cleaning medium (that is to
be applied for example onto the rod-like bodies 12) can be
discharged. Reference numeral 20 identifies in its entirety the
protection unit for protecting the rod-like bodies 12.
[0049] FIGS. 2a and 2b show two illustrations of an apparatus 1
according to the invention. In the situation shown in FIG. 2a, the
rod-like bodies 12 have been moved into the plastic preform 10, so
that the system can be cleaned without any risk of damage to the
rod-like bodies 12. Here again, what can be seen is the mouth 10a
of the containers, through which the rod-like bodies are inserted
into the container 10 or the protective body 18.
[0050] Reference numeral 16 relates to an exit window, through
which the electrons can exit from the rod-like body 12 or
respectively the beam finger 12. This exit window is provided in an
end section 12a of the rod-like body 10. Advantageously, also a
cooling unit for cooling the exit window is provided, and for this
purpose a corresponding coolant may be passed for example between
an outer housing of the rod-like body and an inner housing located
within this rod-like housing.
[0051] Reference numeral 48 schematically identifies a
stabilisation unit. In the situation shown in FIG. 2a, this
stabilisation unit 48 may be moved up to a stabilisation unit (not
shown) that may be formed to be complementary, for example on the
carrier 2, in order to stabilise in this way the protective body 18
relative to the carrier. This stabilisation unit 48 may be
generally implemented in such a way that it effects a stabilisation
relative to the carrier 2 or generally relative to an element, on
which also the rod-like body 12 is fixedly mounted.
[0052] In this way, a relative movement between the protective body
14 and the rod-like body 12 may be prevented during the cleaning
operation. However, it would also be possible for the gripping unit
14 to be stabilised relative to its movement unit. Also, additional
stabilisation units (not shown) may be provided, which support the
container on a base body below the mouth, such as for example a
second gripping element that is provided below the gripping unit 14
in the longitudinal direction L. In this way, the containers are
held in two different positions along the longitudinal direction
thereof, as a result of which an enhanced stabilisation of the
container 10 is achieved.
[0053] The drive unit 24, which during working operation is used to
move the rod-like bodies into the plastic containers 10, is also
used during the cleaning operation to move the rod-like bodies 12
into the protective bodies 18 thereof. To this end it would be
possible to insert all of the rod-like bodies 12 of the respective
sterilisation units into the plastic preforms or respectively the
plastic containers and to move them preferably into an upper
position as shown in FIG. 2a.
[0054] Preferably, each sterilisation unit 4 also has such a drive
unit 24, and these drive units can advantageously be controlled
independently from each other. Advantageously, also the holding or
gripping units 14 can be controlled in particular between a closed
condition, in which they hold the containers 10, and an open
condition, in which they release the containers 10.
[0055] In order to initiate the above-mentioned cleaning mode, it
is possible for each of these gripping units to be occupied by a
plastic container 10 acting as a protective body 18.
[0056] This could also be done via a corresponding control of an
outlet star wheel that carries off the plastic containers from the
apparatus during working operation. Once a cleaning operation has
been carried out, the individual gripping units 14 with the plastic
containers 10/18 arranged thereon can be lowered down again and the
respective plastic containers 10 can be moved out of the apparatus.
Advantageously, the containers are transferred out and/or
discarded, and such a transferring out is advantageously carried
out automatically.
[0057] It would also be possible to use special protective bodies
which are inserted into the apparatus in particular for cleaning
purposes and which can preferably be reused after cleaning.
Advantageously, such protective bodies are designed in such a way
that they can be gripped by the gripping units 14. Such protective
bodies may here be dimensioned such that the risk of any damage to
the individual rod-like bodies is reduced even further, for example
by providing them with a diameter that is markedly larger than the
diameter of the rod-like bodies.
[0058] Reference numeral 52 identifies a cover unit that covers the
movement mechanism for lifting and lowering the holding unit. This
cover unit may for example be a set of bellows. This cover unit is
here advantageously provided within the clean room 30 or
respectively forms itself a border of the clean room 30. Part of
the cover can also be a housing on which preferably an additional
set of bellows is provided so as to enable a lifting and lowering
movement.
[0059] Within the cover unit, a lifting and lowering mechanism 58
for lifting and lowering the holding unit may be provided, which is
driven by the drive unit 24 (and thus preferably from outside of
the clean room).
[0060] This lifting and lowering mechanism may here include holding
rods 54 which are moved by the drive unit 24.
[0061] It would also be possible for the holding or gripping units
for the plastic containers 10 to be suitable for gripping other
protective bodies, for example by way of the gripping units
allowing the reception of objects having cross sections that are
larger than the cross sections of the containers 10 to be
sterilised.
[0062] However, it would also be possible that protective bodies
are already provided on the apparatus, which protective bodies are
moved over the rod-like bodies, for example by means of a separate
lifting mechanism. Also, the protective bodies may be formed as
shields which only partially surround the rod-like bodies. The
protection apparatus according to the invention is also suitable
for protecting for example rod-like UV lamps which can be inserted
into containers for treating such containers.
[0063] The applicant reserves the right to claim all of the
features mentioned in the application documents as being essential
to the invention in as far as they are novel over the prior art
either alone or in combination with other features.
* * * * *