Patent ID: 9505598
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: A61L,B67B

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for processing seals that are used for closing bottles, said seals having a diameter, said apparatus comprising a sterilizing machine for sterilizing said seals, said sterilizing machine comprising a transport system for moving said seals through treatment zones in which said seals are sterilized, activated, and dried, wherein said transport system comprises a seal input, a seal output, a rotor, a treatment path, a first application station, an activation and/or drying station, and seal holders, wherein said rotor rotates about a rotor axis in a rotation direction, wherein said seal holders are vertically oriented wherein said seal holders extend along a longitudinal direction, wherein said seal holders are disposed on a periphery of said rotor, wherein each of said seal holders accommodates a stack of seals, wherein each of said seal holders carries said stack of seals along said rotation direction through said treatment zones on said treatment path between said seal input and said seal output, wherein said first application station is on said treatment path, wherein said first application station comprises a first sterilizing-agent sprayer, wherein said first sterilizing-agent sprayer comprises successive outlets, wherein said outlets are spaced apart from each other in said longitudinal direction, wherein a distance between any pair of successive outlets is equal to said diameter, wherein said first sterilizing-agent sprayer is directed toward a seal holder for applying sterilizing agent onto individual seals held therein, and wherein said activating and/or drying station is provided downstream of said first application station in said rotation direction.