Patent ID: 8834808
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: A61L,B67B,B67C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for sterilizing cap-like closures for containers, said apparatus comprising a transport system for moving said closures through at least three treatment zones, said at least three treatment zones comprising a first treatment zone in which said closures are preheated, a second treatment zone in which said closures are exposed to a sterilizing agent, and a third treatment zone in which said closures are at least one of activated and dried in a drying medium selected from a group consisting of a sterile gaseous medium, a vaporous medium, and sterile air, wherein said first and third treatment zones each comprise a rotor that can be driven to circulate about a rotor axis thereof, and a multiplicity of closure holders formed on a periphery of each of said rotors for moving closures through said first treatment zone from a closure pickup disposed therein to a first closure delivery position, and through said third treatment zone from a second closure delivery position disposed therein to a closure discharge, and wherein said second treatment zone is disposed between said first and second closure delivery positions such that closures delivered to said first closure delivery position, after passing said second treatment zone and after exposure to said sterilizing agent, are passed on to a closure holder ready at said second closure delivery position of said rotor in said third treatment zone, wherein at least one of said rotors is formed as a hollow drum with a cage-like drum casing formed by a multiplicity of closure holders.