Patent ID: 8735850
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for sterilizing a web material, the apparatus comprising: a housing into which the web material is drawn into a machine in a non-continuous manner; a first electron beam emitter oriented to generate a first electron beam to sterilize a first surface of the web material as it traverses the housing; a tachometer operatively interconnected with a roller in the machine, the tachometer configured to identify a speed at which the web material is being drawn by the machine; a first beam modulator for modulating a density of the first electron beam applied from a window of the first electron beam emitter to the first surface of the web material, the first beam modulator provided between the window of the first electron beam emitter and the web material; a first power supply for powering the first beam modulator; and a controller operatively interconnected with the tachometer and the first power supply and configured to control a beam energy output from a transmission factor of the first beam modulator so as to keep the density of the first electron beam on the web material within a desired range while the web material is in an irradiation zone, the controller further configured to control a current and voltage of the first electron beam so as to keep a constant thermal load on a thin foil of the first electron beam emitter while the web material is in the irradiation zone.