Patent ID: 6442915
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A process for germ reduction and cleaning at least one surface on a loading side of a sheet of packing material, which comprises the steps of(a) introducing the sheet of packing material in dried condition into a sterilization chamber and moving the sheet through the sterilization chamber in an operating direction, (b) jetting superheated steam to the dry surface through a nozzle in the sterilization chamber, (1) saturated steam being supplied to the nozzle and the steam being superheated by a controlled energy supply in the nozzle immediately prior to being jetted, and (2) the superheated steam being jetted with substantially uniform intensity over the entire length of at least one transverse line of the sheet of packing material to form a condensate film, and (c) subsequently introducing the sheet of packing material coming out of the sterilization chamber into an aseptic tube of a packing machine, (1) the sterilization chamber and the aseptic tube being held under a pressure slightly exceeding atmospheric pressure.